Exclusive breastfeeding practices and its predictors among female lecturers in Rivers State Nigeria

Authors

  • Osaro BO Rivers State University Port Harcourt
  • Ikewelu GO Department of Community Medicine, Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka.
  • Ben-Osaro NV Department of Adult Education and Community Development, Faculty of Education, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.
  • Ken-Ezihuo S Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.60787/tnhj.v24i2.826

Keywords:

Exclusive breastfeeding, breastfeeding, Breastfeeding support, Lecturers, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Optimal health benefit of breastfeeding is derived from exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) which is low in developing countries and below the global target of 90% recommended by UNICEF/WHO. This study investigated the practice of EBF and its predictors among female lecturers in Rivers State Nigeria.

Method: This is a cross-sectional study of 381 female lecturers in Rivers State Nigeria selected by multistage sampling method. Information on socio-demographic, knowledge of EBF and breastfeeding practices were collected using a validated self-administered structured survey questionnaire. Univariate and bivariate statistics was done at p < 0.05, and the results were presented in tables.

Result: Mean age of participants was 40.21± 6.641years, 168 (75.7%) had good knowledge of EBF while 117 (52.7%) practiced it. EBF practice was associated with social support (X2 = 7.961, P = 0.005), duration of breast feeding (X2 = 43.379, P < 0.0001) and method of breast feeding when at work (X2 = 14.721, P = 0.001). Predictors of EBF were breastfeeding babies for six months (OR = 12.93, 95% CI = 1.605 - 104.144) and expressing breastmilk for baby when at work (OR = 2.576, 95% CI = 1.297 - 5.115)

Conclusion: Two-third of the female lecturers in Rivers State Nigeria had good knowledge of EBF and about half practiced it. Predictors of EBF were breastfeeding for six months and expressing breast milk for baby when at work. Spouses should support female lecturers to breastfed for six months and to express breastmilk for their babies when at work.

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References

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Published

2024-06-10

How to Cite

Osaro, B. O., Ikewelu, G. O., Ben-Osaro, N. V., & Ken-Ezihuo, S. (2024). Exclusive breastfeeding practices and its predictors among female lecturers in Rivers State Nigeria. The Nigerian Health Journal, 24(2), 1320–1327. https://doi.org/10.60787/tnhj.v24i2.826
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