Knowledge and Attitude of Antenatal Mothers Regarding Early Initiation of Breast Feeding
Mrs. Dhanalakshmi N1, Mrs. Bhavya SV2, Prof. Sheela Williams3
1M.Sc Nursing Student, JSS College of Nursing, Mysuru
2Assistant Professor OBG Nursing, JSS College of Nursing, Mysuru
3Principal cum Professor and HOD Medical Surgical Nursing, JSS College of Nursing, Mysuru
*Corresponding Author Email: poojakeerthan@gmail.com
ABSTRACT:
Background: The creation of first bonding experience between the mother and child is only through the early initiation of breast feeding. It comprises of early skin-to-skin contact and to suck breast milk within the first hour. It protects the baby against illness and ensures warmth and comfort of the baby that is held close to the nursing mother. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge and attitude of antenatal mothers regarding early initiation of breast feeding. Methods: In this study descriptive survey design and non probability convenience sampling was adopted to select 200 antenatal mothers who are attending the Outpatient department of JSS hospital, Mysuru. The knowledge and attitude was measured by using structured interview schedule and attitude scale. Health information pamphlet on early initiation of breast feeding was given to study subjects. The data was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The analysis of the findings revealed that, the knowledge and attitude scores of antenatal mothers regarding early initiation of breast feeding revealed that 70.5% were having poor knowledge and 65% were having unfavorable attitude. The findings of the present study showed that there is a significant correlation between knowledge scores and attitude scores of antenatal mothers regarding early initiation of breastfeeding. The calculated correlation coefficient(r) was 0.616 which is greater than the table value 0.139at 0.05 level of significance, which showed that knowledge influence the attitude of antenatal mothers. Study findings also revealed that there is an significant association between knowledge scores of antenatal mothers and their selected personal variables like occupation, family income and previous exposure to health information and there is a significant association between attitude scores of antenatal mothers and their selected personal variables like age, occupation, type of family. Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that there is a lack of knowledge and unfavorable attitude of antenatal mothers regarding early initiation of breast feeding.
KEYWORDS: Antenatal mothers, knowledge, attitude, early initiation of breast feeding.
INTRODUCTION:
Early initiation of breast feeding creates first bonding experience between the mother and the child.1Early initiation of breast feeding can reduce neonatal mortality by 22% and thereby decrease the infant mortality rate and contribute to the attainment of millennium development goal 4.
In India alone early initiation of breast feeding can save 2,50,000 live children by reducing deaths mainly due to diarrheal disorders and lower respiratory tract infections.2 In India 24% - 26% of babies born are breastfed within one hour while the corresponding rate for Sri Lanka is 75%.It can reduce neonatal mortality by 22% and decrease the Infant Mortality Rate and contribute to the attainment of millennium development goals 4.2
NEED FOR STUDY:
Globally four million deaths occur every year in the first month of life. In India around one million babies die each year before completion of one month of life. Neonatal mortality rate is 32/1000 live births in the year of 2010.In Mysuru the infant mortality rate is 43/1000 live births and objective is to reduce it to 29/1000 live births.3 In breastfeeding practices from 2008-2012 report says only 46% of newborns in India were breastfed in the first 24 hours of their birth.4The Healthy People 2020 goals aim for 81.9% of women to initiate breastfeeding and 60.6% to continue the breastfeeding till six months.5
OBJECTIVES:
1. To assess the knowledge and attitude of antenatal mothers regarding early initiation of breast feeding.
2. To determine the relationship between knowledge and attitude of antenatal mothers regarding early initiation of breast feeding.
3. To find the association between level of knowledge and attitude of antenatal mothers regarding early initiation of breast feeding and their selected personal variables.
HYPOTHESIS:
Significance level at 0.05:
H1: There will be significant relationship between the knowledge and attitude scores of antenatal mothers regarding early initiation of breast feeding.
H2: There will be significant association between level of knowledge and attitude of antenatal mothers regarding early initiation of breast feeding with their selected personal variables.
METHODOLOGY:
RESEARCH APPROACH/DESIGN:
Descriptive survey approach was adopted for the study.
Study Variables:
Knowledge and attitude of antenatal mothers regarding early initiation of breast feeding
Personal Variables:
Age, educational status, occupation, religion, type of family, family income per month, gravida, weeks of gestation, place of residence and previous information regarding early initiation of breast feeding.
SETTING OF THE STUDY:
Outpatient Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at JSS hospital Mysuru.
POPULATION: Antenatal mothers
SAMPLE:
Antenatal mothers of 200 who are attending the outpatient department of JSS hospital Mysuru.
SAMPLING TECHNIQUE:
Non-Probability convenience sampling
SAMPLING CRITERIA:
Inclusion criteria:
Antenatal mothers who are:
- available at the time of data collection
- more than 14 weeks of gestation attending outpatient department
Exclusion Criteria:
Antenatal mothers who are:
- having labour pain
- not willing to participate
RESULTS:
SECTION I: DESCRIPTION OF SELECTED PERSONAL VARIABLES:
Findings of the present study showed that majority 173 (83.5%) antenatal mothers were in the age group of 18-26years, majority 70(35%) antenatal mothers had higher secondary school education. 170 (85%) antenatal mothers were housewives and majority 186 (93%) antenatal mothers were hindus. Majority 104 (52%) antenatal mothers belongs to joint family, their monthly income 74(37%) were having family income from Rs 3001-6000; majority 150 (75%) antenatal mothers were primigravida. Data also revealed majority 84 (42%) antenatal mothers were in 21-30 weeks of gestation, majority 127 (63.5%) antenatal mothers were living in rural area. 144 (72%)of antenatal mothers had no previous information on early initiation of breast feeding.
SECTION II: FINDINGS RELATED TO THE KNOWLEDGE SCORES OF ANTENATAL MOTHERS REGARDING EARLY INITIATION OF BREAST FEEDING.
TABLE 1 Frequency and percentage distribution of knowledge scores of antenatal mothers regarding early initiation of breast feeding. n = 200
|
Knowledge scores |
Frequency |
Percentage |
|
Poor knowledge |
141 |
70.5% |
|
Average knowledge Good knowledge |
59 0 |
29.5% 0% |
The findings revealed that the mean knowledge scores of antenatal mothers is 14.44, and it ranged from 7 to 22. The majority 141 (70.5%) of mothers had poor knowledge, 59 (29.5%) had average knowledge and none of them had good knowledge regarding early initiation of breast feeding.
TABLE 2 Mean, Median, Standard deviation and Range of knowledge scores of antenatal mothers regarding early initiation of breast feeding n=200
|
|
Mean |
Median |
Range |
SD |
|
Knowledge scores |
14.44 |
14 |
7-22 |
±3.38 |
The data presented in Table 2 shows that, the knowledge score of antenatal mothers regarding early initiation of breast feeding ranged from 7-22, with the mean knowledge score 14.44 with standard deviation of ±3.38
TABLE 3 Frequency and percentage distribution of attitude scores of antenatal mothers regarding early initiation of breast feeding n = 200
|
Attitude scores |
Frequency |
Percentage |
|
Unfavorable attitude |
130 |
65% |
|
Favorable attitude |
70 |
35% |
The majority 130 (65%) of antenatal mothers had unfavorable attitude and 70 (35%) of antenatal mothers had favorable attitude regarding early initiation of breast feeding.
TABLE 4 Mean, Median, Standard deviation and Range of attitude scores of antenatal mothers n =200
|
|
Mean |
Median |
Range |
SD |
|
Attitude scores |
38.80 |
39 |
27-60 |
±6.42 |
The data presented in Table 4 shows that, the attitude scores of antenatal mothers regarding early initiation of breast feeding ranged from 27-60, with the mean attitude score 38.80 and standard deviation of ±6.42.
SECTION 3 RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE SCORES OF ANTENATAL MOTHERS REGARDING EARLY INITIATION OF BREAST FEEDING
TABLE 5 Correlation coefficient between knowledge and attitude scores of antenatal mothers regarding early initiation of breast feeding n = 200
|
Variables |
Mean score |
Correlation coefficient(r) |
|
Knowledge |
14.44 |
|
|
Attitude |
38.80 |
0.616* |
r (198) = 0.139, p<0.05, *=Significant.
To find the relationship between knowledge and attitude of antenatal mothers regarding early initiation of breast feeding, correlation co-efficient was computed and obtained value is r=0.616 it is significant at 0.05 level. Hence, the knowledge and attitude have significant and positive relationship with each other.
SECTION-4: ASSOCIATION OF LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF ANTENATAL MOTHERS REGARDING EARLY INITIATION OF BREAST FEEDING WITH THEIR SELECTED PERSONAL VARIABLES
Findings related to the association between level of knowledge of antenatal mothers regarding early initiation of breast feeding and their selected personal variables:
It is evident from the result that, there is an association between level of knowledge of antenatal mothers and their selected personal variables like occupation, family income per month and previous information regarding early initiation of breastfeeding. Hence, it was inferred that, the knowledge of antenatal mothers was independent of their selected personal variables except occupation, family income, and previous information regarding early initiation of breastfeeding.
Findings related to association between level of attitude of antenatal mothers regarding early initiation of breast feeding and their selected personal variables:
It is evident from the result that the there is an association between attitude scores of antenatal mothers regarding early initiation of breast feeding and their selected personal variables like age, occupation and type of family. Hence, it is inferred that the attitude of antenatal mothers were independent of all selected personal variables except age, occupation and type of family.
CONCLUSION:
With the study findings investigator concludes that, there is a lack of knowledge and unfavorable attitude of antenatal mothers regarding early initiation of breast feeding and also knowledge influencing the attitude of the antenatal mothers, hence it is essential to plan and implement various educational strategies to antenatal mothers regarding early initiation of breast feeding which helps to maintain optimum health of both mother and child.
REFERENCE:
1. Raman Kalia. Promotion of breast feeding practices. International journal of nursing studies. 2004; 44:1128-37
2. Bhatt Shwetal, Parikh Pooja, KanthariaNeha, DahatAmit, Parmar Rahul. Knowledge, attitude and practice of postnatal mothers for early initiation of breast feeding in the obstetric wards of a tertiary care hospital of vadodaracity. National Journal of Community Medicine. June 2012; 3( 2): 305-30
3. Wendy H. Oddy. Breastfeeding in the first hour of life protects against neonatal mortality. Journal de Pediatria. 2013; 89(2): 109-111
4. Cia world fact book. Available from Http://www.indexmundi.com/world/birth_rate.html
5. Kristin Beermann. The Effectiveness of Prenatal Education on Breastfeeding Initiation and Continuation Rates. Quantitative Research Proposal. April 2011.
Received on 11.01.2017 Modified on 08.02.2017
Accepted on 06.04.2017 © A&V Publications all right reserved
Asian J. Nur. Edu. and Research.2017; 7(3): 278-280.
DOI: 10.5958/2349-2996.2017.00057.X