Abstract

BACKGROUND: Exclusive breastfeeding is considered to be an important practice for enhancing infant health and wellbeing. Breastfeeding offers a wide range of psychological and physical health benefits in the long-term and short-term for young children, infants, and mothers. The study therefore sought to assess the challenges in initiation of breast feeding among mothers admitted at a teaching hospital.
METHODS:This study used a retrospective questionnaire to collect data. The advantage of using a questionnaire is standardized response as women are asked the same set of questions in the same order.The questionnaire was in English and questions are asked in their own language. Mother’s and caretakers were asked about each question.Random sampling was used when selecting the mothers to be interviewed from those who were admitted for delivery in maternity and teaching hospitals in postpartum period during hospital stay.
RESULTS: Among the 200 participants 45.5% of mothers gave first feeds to their baby within one hour, 73%of the neonates were given Direct breast feeding on day 1,5% of mothers had difficulty in initiation of feeds. 48.5% of mothers had delay in initiation of feeds,2.5%of the mothers had inverted nipple,1.5% of the mothers had taboo regarding breast feeding, 2.5% of the mothers preferred formula feeds.
CONCLUSION: Based on the findings, it was recommended that mothers should be encouraged and sensitized to know the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, and extension of maternity period is also important to enable them attend to their babies