Breastfeeding: Knowledge, Perception, And Intention to Practice Among Female Students of Tertiary Institutions in Ekiti, Southwest Nigeria

Author:

Ogundare Ezra12ORCID,Babatola Adefunke12,Omoyajowo Adefunke3,Ajite Adebukola12,Adeniyi Adewuyi12,Fatunla Odunayo2,Ojo Temitope4ORCID,Agbesanwa Tosin12,Olubosede Omolayo5,Taiwo Adekunle2,Oluyi Adedayo2,Ajibola Ayotunde2,Komolafe Akinwumi2,Airemionkhale Alfred2,Oluwayemi Isaac12,Olatunya Oladele12ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

2. Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

3. Statistics Programme, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria

4. Department of Community Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

5. Department of Paediatrics, University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Akure, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction Breastfeeding is a public health practice that is critical for the survival of infants and young children. This study aimed at determining the knowledge, attitude, and future intention to breastfeed among female undergraduates in tertiary institutions in Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria. Methodology: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 1312 female students of the tertiary institutions in Ekiti State. By convenience sampling, female students were invited to participate in the study after giving verbal consent and those studying medical, nursing, and other courses allied to medicine were excluded. Internal consistency of the data obtained from this research instrument was determined using Cronbach’s coefficient Alpha with a reliability value of 0.82. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25. Descriptive as well as inferential statistics were computed. Results were summarized as frequencies and percentages. The differences in knowledge, attitude, and intention to practice breastfeeding as well as other responses among the participants were compared among age groups, faculties and the sources of information using Chi-square test. Result Although 93% of the respondents agreed that breast milk is important for the development of the infant’s brain thereby demonstrating good knowledge; 51.6% of the respondents demonstrated poor perception to breastfeeding believing breastfeeding makes the breast to sag while only 34% of the respondents indicated their intention to breastfeed their future babies. Conclusion The intention to breastfeed among our study participants was poor. This study revealed the need to increase awareness about breastfeeding and its benefits among this huge population of future mothers.

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Subject

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,Education,General Medicine,Health(social science)

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