ABSTRACT

The major concern in this research was to asses mothers’ challenges on the practice of exclusive breastfeeding for infants 0-6 months. In other to obtain this objective a question was designed to distributed to a sample population of fifty (100) mothers at the Mile 16 Community that where sampled from January 2023 – March 2023. Through is instrument and from the response gathered, it was revealed that majority (90%) of the mothers are the versed with the subject matter under consideration (Challenges face by nursing mother in the practice of exclusive breastfeeding). This include the definition of exclusive breastfeeding, mother knowledge and measures of exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers on infants 0-6 months. With this result, the challenges face by mothers in the practice of exclusive breastfeeding is to low and also, they have good adequate knowledge on the and measures on the practice of exclusive breastfeeding that is while infant survival rate remain high and infant mortality rate is low in the Mile 16 Community. Despite the good knowledge and low challenges and measures on the practice of exclusive breastfeeding for recommendation, sensitization should be done during vaccination campaign to help educate breastfeeding mothers’ in the community have limited knowledge and to those who have little challenges lack measures on breastfeeding practice.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of Study

  Adequate nutrition during infancy and early child period is essential to ensure growth, health and development of children to their full potential. (Chow et al.,   2009). World Health Organization in 2009 recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life, followed by breastfeeding along with complementary foods for up to two years of age or beyond. (Hanit et al.,   2011). Exclusive breastfeeding is the practice where infants receive only breast milk without an additional liquid, solid, tea, herbal preparation for the first six month of life with the exception of vitamin, mineral, supplement or medicine (Nkale and Kakumah, 2011). Breastfeeding infants exclusively for the first six months of life carries a lot of benefits, whereby it lowers the child the risk of developing gastrointestinal infection, pneumonia, otitis media, respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection and early childhood syndrome while mother will return to her normal pre-pregnant weight very rapidly and also a reduction in having type 2 diabetes (Bai and Peng, 2009). However, many studies have shown that many mothers find it difficult to practice exclusive breastfeeding despite the increase rate of initiation of exclusive breastfeeding (Whalen and Cramton, 2010). Some of the challenges which nursing mothers face in the practice of exclusive breastfeeding  include low production of breast milk, sore nipples, breast problem, mother perception of producing adequate milk, societal barriers such as unemployment, short maternity leave, inadequate breastfeeding knowledge, lack of financial and societal support, lack of guidance and encouragement from health care professionals, lack of advertisement of infants feeding on bottle ( Thurman and Allen,  2008) .Good proper exclusive breastfeeding makes the child to gain all the classes of nutrients such as fat, protein, carbohydrate, minerals and vitamins and the three types of breast milk such as Colostrum, Transitional, and mature milk that will give the child good development of cognitive, sensory, brain Retina for the child to be able to functional well both in school and in his external environment (W.H.O,   2009).

The World Health Organization recommend the appropriate age at which solids food should be introduced 6-15 months for the maturity of gastrointestinal tract and renal system of infants most especially for pregnant women with HIV positive (Brown and Matern, 2010).  Breast milk is considered most essential nutritional source for infants while because it contains essential fats, carbohydrate, protein and immunological factors needed for infants to thrive and resist infection in the first year of life. (National Institute of Health, 2015). According to World Health Organization (W.H.O   2016). It is said that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and continuation of breastfeeding and adequate complimentary of foods for up to two years of age or beyond to infants will help build the immune system in other to resist certain infections like early childhood syndrome, otitis media. Where exclusive breastfeeding is defined as intake of breast milk by infants from their mother without an additional something added into it either liquid or solid with exception of drop or syrup, vitamin, minerals, supplement or medicine for the first six months.\

 In Japan, (Inoue and Keiko, 2012) Exclusive breastfeeding Is an initial breast milk given to a child for six months of life, that will help promote good health, development and growth of the child without any complications to prevent disease occurrence for a short and a long-term duration such as pneumonia, gastrointestinal tract. The practice of exclusive breast feeding in Japan has increased from 80 to 95%. Despite the challenges face by some pregnant women in the cause of the practice.  In Nigeria, exclusive breastfeeding is the best nutritional source for infants which help them for the development of their immunity and reduce future health care spending as well (Lancel et al., l 2000). Where exclusive breastfeeding is the act of giving infants only breast milk and no other liquid, solid substance with the exception of drops or syrups, Vitamin, Minerals, supplement or medicine, is superior to non-exclusive breastfeeding with protective effect against morbidity and mortality rate in the country (Kramer and Kakum, 2004). Whereby exclusive breastfeeding reduces low cost, complete nutrition for the infant which protect him or her against infection such as infant’s diarrhea, increase birth spacing (Thapa and Potts, 2004).

 In Nigeria breastfeeding is universal with almost all babies. However, the practice of exclusive breastfeeding is only 17 % of children who are exclusively breastfed (Nigeria Democratic and Health Survey 2008). 60% of mothers were aware of exclusive breastfeeding but only 30% had adequate knowledge on exclusive breastfeeding (Oche  and  Umar, 2008). Because of some certain factors such as Working schedule from the job side, short maternity leave, low production of breast milk, sore nipple and household chores (Illyasu and Kabir, 2005). But Nigeria Democratic and Health survey has Educated well trained personnel and improvement in prenatal and postnatal clinic to improve on their knowledge and important of exclusive breastfeeding (NDHS, 2011).

 In Cameroon, breast milk is the most important and safe food for infants (Tambe and Mimboe., 2018). Breastfeeding provides infants with good nutritional content that is capable of improving infants immunity and possible reduction in future health spending (Jones and Bhatta, 2003). Exclusive breastfeeding in Cameroon is define as the practice were child received only breast milk and no additional liquid or solid substance with the exception of vitamin, Minerals, or medicine after 4-6 months (Kano and Nolla, 2014). Improper consumption of the three types of milk such as Colostrum, Transitional and Mature milk that help to build the immune system may prone the child to certain disease such as respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection and otitis media and high infant mortality rate (Afzal, Sultan 2010). In Cameroon studies have shown that between 18-20% infants are exclusively breastfed for 6 months after birth. Despite this practice some mothers experience problem in the practice of EBF such as Maternal educational level, information about educational age, Father and Mother employment level, mode of delivery and family size (Baman and Kurpal, 2014). Despite these factors there has been an increase in sensation on the knowledge and benefit of breastfeeding, prenatal and postnatal period and during ANC to nursing mothers and pregnant women.

1.2 Problem Statement

Before the practice of exclusive breastfeeding could take place, they were some health issues that was face both for the maternal and for the child wellbeing for example lack of health care professionals that could meet up this practice and also the influence towards culture and tradition also contributed to this practice (Kendall and Sally, 2010). The present of otitis media, gastrointestinal tract, pneumonia, diabetes, leukemia, infant health syndrome are great problem that infant will face if the process of exclusive breastfeeding is not actually not being practice properly by nursing mother to breastfed their infants from 0-6 months   (Gordon and  Nkrumah,  2020).  Added with the above problem the presence of negligent, lack of financial support, lack of Knowledge, household chores, walking schedule, low milk production, swollen breast or sore nipples and short maternity leave  are great challenges problem  face by nursing mothers in the practice of breastfeeding now our days (Madoka and Keiko, 2012) Despite these problem mention above, health care provider, global agencies have come up with the provision  of good health care workers to educate women on exclusive breastfeeding to have more Knowledge and to be aware of the benefit of exclusive breastfeeding for both them themselves and for the infants .

 In conclusion, despite the implementation put in place by all leaders in the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in Cameroon, Nigeria and the World Health Organization the practice did not meet up the necessary target giving to nursing mother to breastfed their infants whereby they are face with challenges such as low production of breast milk, sore nipples, weaknesses of suckling reflex and multiple pregnancy household chores. 

1.3 Rational of the study

The practice is to investigate challenges faced by nursing mothers in the practice of exclusive breastfeeding, mother Knowledge and measures of exclusive breastfeeding of infants 0-6 months and by helping mothers to know the importance and the effects of not carrying out effective exclusive breastfeeding practice to their infants.

1.4       Research Objectives:

1.1.4    General Objective

To investigate the Challenges faced by nursing mothers on the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in the Mile 16 Community

1.4.2    Specific Objectives

1. To assess the Knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers in the Mile 16 Community
2. To identify measures use in the practice of exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers in Mile 16 Community
3. To investigate Barriers to exclusive breastfeeding practice among nursing mothers in the Mile 16 Community

1.5 Research Question:

• What Knowledge do nursing mothers have on the practice of exclusive breastfeeding at the Mile 16 Community?
• What measures are used by nursing mothers in the practice of exclusive breastfeeding at the Mile 16 Community?
• What are the barriers that prevent the practice of exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers at the Mile 16 Community