Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: February | Volume: 10 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 208-214
Exclusive Breastfeeding Knowledge And Attitudes Among Mothers In Mother-To-Mother Support Groups In Kitui County, Kenya
Pamella Kitiyo1, Judith Kimiywe2, Irene Ogada3
1Nutrition Project Officer at World Vision Kenya, P.O BOX 5015-30100,Eldoret, Kenya
2Lecturer, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Kenyatta University, KenyaP.O BOX 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
3Lecturer, Department of Human Nutrition, St. Francis Xavier University, Canada.
Corresponding Author: Pamella Kitiyo
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child life is considered a major public health achievement in the growth and development of a child. However, in Kenya there is paucity of data on exclusive breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes among mothers in mother to mother support groups. This study aimed to establish maternal exclusive breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes among mothers with infants less than 6 months who were members of mother to mother support groups (MtMSGs) in Kitui County
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 183 mothers with infants less than 6 months of age in MtMSGs in Kitui County. A semi-structured researcher administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) knowledge was determined based on EBF knowledge scores while the participants attitudes towards EBF were established using a five point Likert scale. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (S.P.S.S) version 22 was used in the analysis
Results: The results of this study revealed that the participants had high maternal knowledge (77.6%) and positive attitude (98.4%) towards exclusive breastfeeding (EBF).
Conclusion: The mothers in the mother to mother support groups were knowledgeable and had positive attitude towards EBF. There is need to promote programmes promoting exclusive breastfeeding such as Mother to Mother Support Group (MtMSGs) in the community in order to boost the appropriate EBF knowledge and attitudes globally for a healthy world.
Key words: Exclusive breastfeeding, mother to mother support group, exclusive breastfeeding knowledge, exclusive breastfeeding attitudes.