Determinants and Prevalence of Exclusive Breastfeeding among Working Mothers Attending Child Welfare Clinic at Kiambu Hospital, Kiambu County, Kenya.
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Date
2022
Authors
Watetu, Wainaina Esther
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) stands at 41% globally, 43% in Africa and 61% in Kenya. About 61% of Kenyan women are either employed or involved in the operation of a business. The Kenya Integrated Household and Budget Survey in 2016 reported that in Kiambu County, the prevalence of working women aged between 18 and 45 years was at 59.2%. These women are within the child bearing age, which is 15-49 according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The Labour Act in Kenya allows for a three months paid maternity leave. The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative guidelines recommend immediate initiation of breastfeeding which is within an hour of birth as well as support for mothers by the health care staff to continue breastfeeding on demand. The Kenya Infant and Young Child Feeding guidelines recommend that infants should be breastfed exclusively for six months. While all these guidelines have been put in place, almost half of the population has still not adhered to the practice. There is scarcity of reported literature on the breast-feeding practices of the working mother in Kenya as well as in Kiambu County. The purpose of this study was to establish the determinants as well as the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among working mothers. The study adopted a cross-sectional analytical design, with both qualitative and quantitative methods. About 191 working mothers participated in filling the questionnaire and 30 participated in the focus group discussion. A structured questionnaire was used to solicit information on socio-demographic factors among working mothers and their infants, knowledge, attitude, practices, and barriers and boosters of exclusive breastfeeding among working mothers. Focus group discussion was used to collect information that would be triangulated with quantitative findings. The quantitative data collected was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences while qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis. Chi Square and regression were applied to establish the relationship between determinants of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and exclusive breastfeeding practices. Majority of the mothers (96.8%) were knowledgeable on timely initiation of breastfeeding after birth, 94.6% had good knowledge on the recommended duration of EBF by WHO. More than half (64.4%) of mothers indicated that mothers should express breast milk if they resume work before their infants were six months of age. Most (77%) mothers had a positive attitude towards exclusive breastfeeding. Highest proportion (43.5%) of mothers had a 3 months maternity leave with the least proportion (4.2%) having a 2 months maternity leave. The prevalence of EBF at 6 months was 48.7%. Majority (94.8%) of mothers received some form of support from family and friends ranging from provisions to assisting with household chores. The biggest challenges towards EBF were work status (93.7%) and inadequate support from employers (88.3%). Education level of the mother and age of the child was significantly associated with prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding at χ2=22.106, p=<0.001 and χ2=13.574, p=0.045 respectively. There was a significant association between attitude and prevalence of EBF among working mothers. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, should put in place strategies that strengthen adherence to breastfeeding friendly workplaces.
Description
A Research Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment for the Award of Masters’ Degree in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics in the School of Public Health and Applied Human Sciences of Kenyatta University, February 2022
Keywords
Determinants, Prevalence, Exclusive Breastfeeding, Working Mothers, Child Welfare Clinic, Kiambu Hospital, Kiambu County, Kenya