Background to the Study

Breastfeeding is recognized as one of the most effective ways to ensure infant health and survival. Breastmilk provides all the essential nutrients, antibodies, and hormones that a baby needs for growth and development, while also protecting against illnesses. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby’s life and continued breastfeeding alongside appropriate complementary foods for up to two years or beyond.

However, many employed mothers face challenges in maintaining exclusive breastfeeding due to work-related responsibilities. In recent years, breastmilk expression and storage have emerged as vital strategies that enable mothers to continue breastfeeding even while away from their babies. Expressing breastmilk allows mothers to extract milk using either their hands or a breast pump, and store it for later use. This practice is particularly important for working mothers who need to balance their professional duties with their desire to provide the best nutrition for their infants.

In the Buea Town community, like in many other areas, there is growing awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding. However, the knowledge and practices surrounding breastmilk expression and storage remain limited among employed mothers. Factors such as lack of proper information, cultural beliefs, inadequate workplace support, and limited access to resources such as breast pumps or storage facilities can hinder effective implementation of this practice. Understanding the level of knowledge and challenges faced by employed mothers in Buea Town is crucial to promoting strategies that will support breastfeeding and improve child health outcomes.

Statement of the Problem

The increasing participation of women in the workforce has created a significant barrier to exclusive breastfeeding practices. Employed mothers often return to work within a few months after childbirth, making it difficult to breastfeed exclusively for the recommended six months. While breastmilk expression and storage offer a practical solution, many mothers in the Buea Town community lack adequate knowledge and face challenges such as limited resources, inadequate workplace support, and cultural stigma.

These challenges not only affect breastfeeding rates but also pose a risk to the health and well-being of infants, who may miss out on the full benefits of breastmilk. Despite the importance of addressing these issues, there is limited research in the Buea Town community on the knowledge and challenges of breastmilk expression and storage among employed mothers. This gap in understanding limits the development of effective interventions to support working mothers in achieving their breastfeeding goals.

Research Questions

1. What is the level of knowledge about breastmilk expression and storage among employed mothers in Buea Town?
2. What challenges do employed mothers in Buea Town face regarding breastmilk expression and storage?
3. How do workplace policies and cultural beliefs influence the practice of breastmilk expression and storage in Buea Town?
4. What strategies can be implemented to support employed mothers in Buea Town in practicing breastmilk expression and storage?

Objectives of the Study

General Objective

To explore the knowledge and challenges of breastmilk expression and storage among employed mothers in the Buea Town community.

Specific Objectives

1. To assess the level of knowledge about breastmilk expression and storage among employed mothers in Buea Town.
2. To identify the challenges faced by employed mothers regarding breastmilk expression and storage.
3. To examine the influence of workplace policies and cultural beliefs on breastmilk expression and storage practices.
4. To propose strategies for improving breastmilk expression and storage practices among employed mothers in Buea Town.