SUMMARY
Many studies have shown that breast milk is the best milk for
the baby for the first 6 months of life. Despite the numerous promotion
campaigns, the rate of exclusive breast feeding in the first 6months remains
low and weaning early.
This was a cross sectional study was done in two health
facilities in Bafoussam (Provincial Hospital and the Integrated Health Centre)
on a sample of 195 mothers with the aim of assessing the breast-feeding
practices in this part of the country. The data collected from this survey was
recorded on a pre-established questionnaire.
Our study was carried out from January 2008 to January 2009.
The aim was to determine the frequency of breastfeeding, factors influencing it
and to assess the knowledge of the health staff as far as breastfeeding is
concerned. The Chi2 test was used to compare the percentages and the
Student test to compare the means (statistical significance if p<0.05).
Our results showed that:
- 33.8% of the mothers knew that it was important to breast
fed the baby only with breast milk up to six months.
- Only 7.8% knew that it is important to put the baby on
breast milk within 30 minutes after birth.
- 32.82% of the mothers knew it is good to breast fed the
baby day and night.
- 15.6% of them knew the advantages of breast milk.
- Breast-feeding was practiced by 99.48% of the mothers.
- The mean duration of exclusive breast-feeding was 5.06
months, and this reduced with the number of children and the mother's
profession. (P< 0.05)
- Mixed feeding was practiced by 15.98% of the mothers and
replacement feeding in 0.56%.
- Only 7.8% of the mother breast fed within the first 30
minutes after birth.
- In 62.3% of the mothers, no food was given to the baby
before the first feed.
- Stopping breast feeding completely was done averagely at
15.24 months and much earlier in married and educated mothers (P<0.05).
Concerning the health staff, 82.4% of the health staff said
they knew the recommendations of the Ministry of Public Health concerning
breast feeding, and only 25% of them recommended initiation of breastfeeding
within 30 minutes after birth.
- 35% of them advised mothers to breast feed their babies day
and night.
- 45% of them recommended mixed feeding in case of
insufficient milk flow.
- 50% of the health staff left the mothers to decide when to
wean the child and only 10% recommended breast feeding up to 2 years.
In the two health facilities, breast feeding was the
most widely practiced mode of feeding, but the rate of exclusive breast feeding
for the first six months was low and should be improved. Exclusive breast
feeding up to 6 months seemed to be negatively influenced by parity and the
mother's profession. The married matrimonial status and the higher the level of
education of the mothers negatively influenced the overall breast feeding
practice.
All of this was due to insufficient knowledge of the mothers
on the national breast feeding recommendations and the bad breastfeeding
practices often adopted by the health staff.
We thus recommend that parents should be sensitized in
the community, during paediatric consultations, and at vaccination sessions on
the advantages of breast feeding. This will improve their knowledge on breast
feeding and then increase the rate of exclusive breast feeding for the first
six months, and also good breastfeeding practices. Health educative messages
and training in breastfeeding should target personnel working in prenatal
consultations, maternities and paediatric units in order to improve their
knowledge and breastfeeding practices.
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