Exclusive Breastfeeding Knowledge and Attitudes among Mothers in Mother-To-Mother Support Groups in Kitui County, Kenya

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Date
2020
Authors
Kitiyo, Pamella
Kimiywe, Judith
Ogada, Irene
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ijhsr
Abstract
Introduction: Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child life is considered a major public health achievement in the growth and development of a child. However, in Kenya there is paucity of data on exclusive breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes among mothers in mother to mother support groups. This study aimed to establish maternal exclusive breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes among mothers with infants less than 6 months who were members of mother to mother support groups (MtMSGs) in Kitui County Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 183 mothers with infants less than 6 months of age in MtMSGs in Kitui County. A semi-structured researcher administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) knowledge was determined based on EBF knowledge scores while the participants attitudes towards EBF were established using a five point Likert scale. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (S.P.S.S) version 22 was used in the analysis Results: The results of this study revealed that the participants had high maternal knowledge (77.6%) and positive attitude (98.4%) towards exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). Conclusion: The mothers in the mother to mother support groups were knowledgeable and had positive attitude towards EBF. There is need to promote programmes promoting exclusive breastfeeding such as Mother to Mother Support Group (MtMSGs) in the community in order to boost the appropriate EBF knowledge and attitudes globally for a healthy world.
Description
article
Keywords
Exclusive breastfeeding, mother to mother support group, exclusive breastfeeding knowledge, exclusive breastfeeding attitudes
Citation
Kitiyo P, Kimiywe J, Ogada I. Exclusive breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes among mothers in mother-tomother support groups in Kitui County, Kenya. Int J Health Sci Res. 2020; 10(2):208-214.