The Relationship Between Breastfeeding Practice and Childhood Morbidities in Ghana: Analysis of The Nationally-Representative Data.
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Date
2020-09
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Publisher
University of Ghana
Abstract
Background: Breastfeeding the child appropriately guarantees infant and children optimum growth. However, significant evidence on how breastfeeding practices might influence childhood morbidities is lacking in Ghana. To address this knowledge gap, this study was conducted to determine the relationship between breastfeeding practices and childhood morbidities in Ghana.
Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, the study utilized secondary data from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS). A simple proportion was used to estimate the prevalence of breastfeeding practices among respondents. The associations between childhood morbidities (fever, anaemia, diarrhoea, acute respiratory infection (ARI), and cough), and breastfeeding practices were analysed using a logistic regression model. A p-value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant at a 95% confidence interval.
Findings: The prevalence of exclusive, predominant, and complementary breastfeeding among children under six months of age were 52.3%, 21.7%, and 25.7% respectively. For children under 2 years, 14.4% were exclusively breastfed, 11.3 % were predominantly breastfed and 62.3% were complementarily breastfed. Compared to those who were not breastfed, breastfeeding in general (any breastfeeding) was significantly associated with reduced odds of fever [(Adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.60, confidence interval: (CI) 0.37 – 0.97), p=0.038]. Furthermore, exclusive breastfeeding was significantly associated with reduced odds of fever [(AOR: 0.24, CI: 0.12 – 0.46), p<0.001], diarrhoea [(AOR: 0.30, CI: 0.16 – 0.58), p=0.001] and cough (AOR: 0.50, CI: 0.30 – 0.84), p=0.009] compared to children non-exclusively breastfed (predominantly and complementarily breastfed). Also, the relationship between exclusive, predominant, complementary breastfeeding and childhood morbidities compared to those who were not breastfed showed that those who were exclusively and predominantly breastfed had 84% [(AOR: 0.16, CI: 0.07 – 0.36), p<0.001] and 55% [(AOR: 0.45, CI: 0.23 – 0.88), p=0.002] reduced odds of fever respectively. Similarly, exclusive breastfeeding was associated with 77% [(AOR: 0.23, CI: 0.11 – 0.50), p<0.001] and 64% [(AOR: 0.36, CI: 0.19 – 0.70), p=0.002] reduced odds of diarrhoea and cough respectively.
Conclusion: Evidence from the study suggests that breastfeeding practices may influence the frequency of childhood morbidities among children under 2 years old. This, therefore, calls for policies and enforcement of policies that will promote and enhance good breastfeeding practices.
Description
MSc. Occupation Hygiene
Keywords
Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS), Breastfeeding, Ghana, Childhood Morbidities