Exclusive Breastfeeding Practices among First-Time Mothers in Kassena-Nankana Municipality

Abstract

Breastfeeding is accepted globally as the preferred method of feeding infants. According to World Health Organization exclusive breastfeeding, is defined as giving only breast milk from a mother or wet nurse or expressed without any additional food or liquid for six months. In Ghana, an estimated 84% of children younger than 2 months are being exclusively breastfed and by age 4 to 5 months only 49% continue to receive EBF and this situation appear to be deteriorating as available information shows that EBF has declined. This study assessed the perception and practices of exclusive breastfeeding, the factors that influence their practice and explored the coping strategies adopted by first-time mothers in relation with exclusive breastfeeding. This was a qualitative study; four focus group discussions were conducted among first-time mothers and eight in-depth interviews with health workers and traditional birth attendants. The study was conducted in four communities in the Kassena-Nankana municipality. Discussions and interviews were recorded, translated and transcribed verbatim to the English language and the transcribed data was analyzed using various themes and coded with the aid of qualitative data analysis computer software “Nvivo version 10.0”. The study found out that most of the first-time mothers had practiced exclusive breastfeeding. Although they indicated being knowledgeable of the benefits and consequences related with the practice, a number of factors such as influence of relatives of the mother, cultural practices and breastfeeding challenges determined the likelihood for a mother to decide to breastfeed her baby exclusively for six months. Therefore adequate access to information on exclusive breastfeeding and support from health providers and relations can be attributed to encouraging a mother to exclusively breastfeed her baby for six months.