INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF) and the

World Health Organization (WHO) (1998) defined exclusive

breastfeeding as the act of feeding an infant with only breast milk from

the first day of birth to six (6) months of life without any supplement.

All mammals have a common phenomenon of feeding their infants with

their own milk. Man is the only mammal who uses milk of other

mammals to nourish her own infants.

The introduction of human breast milk substitute for nourishing women

infant began with the development in civilization. First mothers in

affluent society employed a ‘wet nurse’ to breastfeed their babies. Later

during the industrial age artificial milk was introduced as a substitute to

breast milk. This was promoted since mothers who were employed in

public offices found it as a relief. Babies could be fed without the

necessary presence of their mothers when they are away from them most

mothers in the developed world made their options in infant feeding with

the result that most infants lost the benefit of breast milk (Bennet and

Brown 1990).

In the developed world midwives should recognize that majority of

women who chose to breastfeed do so because they regard it as the

fulfillment of motherhood and are less conscious of the benefits of human

milk for their babies. With this attitude of women in the developed world

of not breastfeeding babies at all or breastfeeding for a very short period

after birth influence women in the developing world also. Thus after so

many decades of practicing artificial infant feeding scientists have

discovered through research the advantages of breast milk its

composition differs from cow’s milk.

According to Lache (1988) human milk being tailor-made for the baby’s

digestive system is more readily assimilated than cow’s milk. With this

discovering the numerous advantages of exclusive breastfeed cannot be

overlooked and the disadvantages of artificial milk due to its differences

in composition has resulted to increased infant morbidity and mortality

rate. Hence exclusive breastfeeding has formed the centre of strategy of

child survival within this point in time to reduce or eradicate the high

morbidity and mortality among other means is through exclusive

breastfeeding.

In the olden days mother breastfed because that was the only way by

which the young infant could be nourished till he learnt to accept other

food. They did not only nourish but also nurtured them with affections

and good character. Mothers then breastfed adequately and were close to

their babies. When the babies grew up they had affection for their parents

and care so much for them in turn.

The breast milk substitute has its own problem of not being adequate for

the health of the young infant due to its difference in composition

compared to human milk its poor hygienic maintenance also contribute to

the health hazard in life of the infants. These include malnutrition many

infections due to its lack of antibiotics and organic diseases which claim

the life of the children especially from six months to five years of age.

In the recent years the World Health Organization and United Nations

International Children Education Fund all over the world is advocating

for exclusive breastfeeding as the best possible means to reduce the

morbidity and mortality rate in children give children their right and

build in them a sense of security and belonging these are basic needs

according to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The Innocenti Declaration in

(1990) called upon all the countries of the world to adopt Baby Friendly

Hospital Initiative in which Nigeria was represented to promote

breastfeeding.

It is a thing of concern to see that with all the awareness and advocacy by

WHO/UNICEF and Federal Ministry of Health (FMH). Many mothers

who are enlightened do not practice adequate and exclusive breastfeeding

which is the right of the child. This study is aimed at discovering the

attitude of working class mothers toward exclusive breastfeeding.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

According to Ojo and Briggs (1992) in the olden days mothers practiced

total breastfeeding adequately and their off springs learnt affection from

them from the unset of life. Breast milk substitute was promoted by

industrialist all in the quest for wealth. Thus the use of bottle feeding

which resulted to poor health conditions of the infants and their use of

artificial feeding posed danger to the life of the infants.

Despite scientific evidence showing the importance of breastfeeding for

maternal and child health most mothers are still not practicing exclusive

breastfeeding. The event cannot be left to continue as it account for the

high rate of maternal and child morbidity and mortality. Hence the reason

for this research which seeks to establish the attitude of working class

mothers towards exclusive breastfeeding in General Hospital Kafanchan.

Record has shown that mortality rate of children 0-2 years due to lack of

adequate breastfeeding and malnutrition in General Hospital Kafanchan

from July 2001 to June 2002 is 68 children all together. The record

shows that from July to December 2009 had 5 children death January to

December 2010 had 20 children death January to December 2011 had 33

children death and January to June 2012 had 10 children death given the

total number of 68 children.

1.3 Purpose of the Study

This study intends to investigate the attitude of working class mothers

towards exclusive breastfeeding in General Hospital Kafanchan.

Specifically the study shall seek to:

1. Identify the attitude of working class mothers towards exclusive

breastfeeding.

2. Find out the level of awareness of working class breastfeeding

mothers about the benefit of exclusive breastfeeding.

3. Find out the strategies that will promote exclusive breastfeeding

among working class breastfeeding mothers.

1.4 Research Questions

This research study will attempt to find answers to the following research

questions:

1. What is the attitude of working class breastfeeding mothers

towards exclusive breastfeeding?

2. What is the level of awareness of working class breastfeeding

mothers about the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding?

3. What are the strategies that will promote exclusive breastfeeding

among working class breastfeeding mothers?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study will benefit the following:

● The mothers

● The children (0 – 5 years)

● The community

● The state

This study is valuable to mothers in that it will help them to clearly

understand the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding which will help them

ignore the difficulties encountered at breastfeeding and also it will make

them save money for the family growth because the children will not be

sick.

The children will benefit also because it will reduce highly morbidity and

mortality among children 0-5 years of age due to the children six killer

disease vomiting and diarrhea.

The community and the state will benefit from the study because less

fund will be spent on child welfare clinic. This is because the children

will leave healthy lives.

The recommendation of the study will help the government in effecting

policies and programmes on Baby Friendly Hospital Initiatives (BFHI).

1.6 The Scope and Limitation of the Study

The study is restricted to exclusive breastfeeding because it is the grass

root where infants get quality nutrition from birth. Breast milk contains

the required nutrition and immunity that baby needs for the first 6 months

of life. The study is limited to working class mothers attending child

welfare clinic at General Hospital Kafanchan because of the increasing

rate of negligence and non-acceptance of exclusive breastfeeding.