Challenges of Exclusive Breastfeeding Among Female Health Workers in Two Hospitals in Accra

Abstract

The recent decades have seen a sharp increase in the labor force participation of mothers with young children throughout their childrearing. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding starting from birth with establishment of early breastfeeding within 30 minutes after delivery. The benefits of exclusive breastfeeding are shown by numerous studies and include both the maternal and infant outcomes. Health workers are in general the first advocate of health benefits and subsequently are regarded as role models in whatever they teach and therefore in the practice of exclusive breastfeeding. This study sought to determine the proportion of female health workers practicing exclusive breastfeeding and to describe the reasons for the non practice of exclusive breastfeeding as described by female health workers in two hospital in Accra- La general and Ridge. It was a cross-sectional study involving 163 female health workers of reproductive age (15-49 years old) with a child aged between 6 months and 10 years at the time of working with both institutions. A structured Questionnaire was administered following informed consent to obtain information on their socio-demographic background characteristics as well as factors influencing the non practice of exclusive breastfeeding in their place of delivery, at work and at home. SPSS 16.0 was used for the analysis of the data and Pearson Chi-square test and logistic regression the tools to determine the association and significance of exclusive breastfeeding and the factors associated with the non practice of exclusive breastfeeding at work and at home and at the place of delivery. Sixty height percent (68%) of the female health workers interviewed reported practicing Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months with their children. Two background variables - high level of education and moderate monthly income were found to influence positively the practice of Exclusive breastfeeding with a p-value of 0.009 and 0.019 respectively. Childbirth through assisted surgery and an income of more than 1000 Ghana cedi were associated with the likelihood of non exclusive breastfeeding with a p-value of less than 0.001 and 0.045 respectively. Female Health workers who are nursing mothers are faced with challenges at the venue of delivery and at their work places in the practice of exclusive breastfeeding despite their exposure on the benefits of the practice of Exclusive Breastfeeding. These findings suggest to the policies makers that health education programmes alone are not sufficient to improve the practice of exclusive breastfeeding among the population. Policies which address adequate hours work upon return to maternity leave and mandatory availability of nursing room at workplace as well as emulation of more baby friendly hospital with emphasis on the practical training of both health workers and clients in the establishment and sustainability of Exclusive Breastfeeding are necessary. These measures will improve the rate of exclusive breastfeeding among female health workers and eventually the rate of exclusive breastfeeding among all nursing mothers who are looking up to female health workers as role models in the practice of health recommendations in general and exclusive breastfeeding in particular.