Perception of the "Significant Others" on the Practice of Exclusive Breastfeeding of Nursing Mothers with Infants Aged 6-12 Months in the Dangme West District

ABSTRACT

The general objective of the study was to describe the perceptions of the nursing mothers and of "significant others" that is the peers, husbands, grandmother of the infants, and health workers in relation to the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in the Dangme West District.

Specific Objectives:

To describe the perceptions of nursing mothers with infants aged 6-12 months, and that of their husbands, peers, mothers on the practice of exclusive breastfeeding and to describe the kind of support and advice available to nursing mothers, so as to incorporate their perceptions in Health Education Programmes. To achieve the objective of the study, the Focus Group Discussions (FGD’s) were chosen as the major technique to collect qualitative data. The FGD’s were conducted in five (5) communities in the Dodowa sub-district namely, Doryemu, Ayikuma, New Town, Lower and Zongo. A survey questionnaire was administered to 100 nursing mothers with infants aged 6-12 months. The nursing mothers were recruited from MCH clinic records and immunization returns and visiting their homes to request an interview with the mothers. These served as index cases to identify the husbands, grandmothers and peers. A checklist was used with the Health workers. The pretesting of the FGD guides and the questionnaires for both the nursing mothers were done in the Salem Community of the Dodowa Sub-district.

Findings

The proportion of women who do not practice exclusive breastfeeding in the district is high. Out of the 100 nursing mothers interviewed, 47 did not practice exclusive breastfeeding. The groups know about and have a positive attitude towards exclusive breastfeeding in general. Nursing mothers are receiving some advice on exclusive breastfeeding. Out of the 100 mothers interviewed, 82 had received some advice on exclusive breastfeeding either from a health worker, a mother, mother-in-law, a husband or a friend (peer). There was a general agreement that exclusive breastfeeding is good for the baby. All groups agreed that they need more public education on the practice of exclusive breastfeeding. There are a few cultural misconceptions on the practice of exclusive breastfeeding. Some nursing mothers who had received advice on exclusive breastfeeding did not practice it because they were not allowed to do so by either a mother or a mother-in-law.

• Out of the 100 nursing mothers interviewed, 51 were "living together", as common law wives.

Key Recommendations

It is strongly recommended that the District Health Management Team (DHMT) should:

• Organise training sessions on the terms and concepts of the practice of exclusive breastfeeding to health workers in the district.

• Strengthen and expand their Information, Education and Communication (IEC) programme to include an intensified health education campaign on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding through methods like folk media and drama, to reduce the negative fears and rumours.