ABSTRACT

This study focused on the effect of nursing intervention on breastfeeding related problems among nursing mothers in two selected primary health care centers in Kaduna south, Nigeria. Breastfeeding is a process of feeding babies with breast milk from the mothers’ breast and that does not mean it is always easy. It was observed during the clinical posting that many breastfeeding mothers that attended this primary health care centers encountered a lot of challenges in the course of breastfeeding their babies hence many stopped breastfeeding at early stage .The broad objective of this study therefore is to determine the effect of nursing intervention on breastfeeding related problems among nursing mothers.

The study adopted a pretest posttest quasi experimental design. The population of the nursing mothers is 185 on the average per visit. The sample size consists of 36 nursing mothers, which was determined using Lesley Kish formula while the sampling technique used was simple random technique and purposive sampling technique. Simple random technique was used to select the Southern senatorial district from the three senatorial districts in Kaduna State which are Kaduna North, Kaduna South and Kaduna Central. There after purposive sampling technique was used to select two primary health care centers among the twenty PHCS in Kaduna South. Data was collected with the use of a reliable self-constructed questionnaire before and after the training. Cronbach Alpha was used to determine the reliability of the questionnaire (r=0.990)The training Programme consists of four modules and the training lasted for four weeks. The training comprises of four stages: pre-intervention stage, week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4 and administration of post-test. The study generated four research questions and the three hypotheses which were tested at 0.05 alpha levels. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and t-test.

 Demographic data of participants showed that majority of the maternal respondents with children numbering between 1 and 2 were 28(77.75%) had the highest percentage.        The highest educational attainment of the respondent was secondary school (100%).  The Igbo’s 16, (44.4%) had the highest percentage among the tribes. Majority (52.8%) of the nursing mothers have poor knowledge on adequate breastfeeding positioning, 14 (38.8%) of the participants had moderate level of knowledge on procedure for breastfeeding. 17 (47.2%) of the participants had moderate knowledge level of breast engorgement,). Majority 21 (58.4%) of the participants had moderate level of knowledge on sore nipples. Significant differences were found between the pre and post intervention in the following areas; on adequate positioning for effective latch-on (p=0.009), on procedure for breastfeeding (p=0.011), on breastfeeding problems (p=0.001).

In conclusion, the training was effective in improving the level of knowledge of breastfeeding mothers on breastfeeding related problems and its prevention. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the government should help in minimizing this breastfeeding related problems by organizing seminars, workshop and extension services to enlighten women on breastfeeding problems and early prevention

Keywords: Knowledge, Effectiveness, Breastfeeding related problems, Latching-on

Word Count: 450

CHAPTER ONE

                                                INTRODUCTION

1.1              Background to the Study

Breastfeeding is the act of milk transference from mother to baby that is needed for the survival and healthy growth of the baby into an adult (United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 2009; Heckman, 2011). Breastfeeding provide infant with essential calories and nutrients to nourish the baby (National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, 2009).According to the American Academy of Pediatrics  (AAP) policy Statement on Breastfeeding, women who do not have health problems should exclusively breastfeed their infants for at least the first six months of life (AAP,2012).  The importance of appropriate infant feeding and the vital role played by breastfeeding in child survival, growth and development cannot be over-emphasized (AAP, 2012). The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended two years breastfeeding; first six months exclusive breastfeeding; more than eight times breastfeeding per day in the first three months of an infant’s life. The AAP suggested that a woman should try to breastfeed her infant for the first twelve months of life.

Despite the documented value of exclusive breastfeeding during the first months of a child’s life and struggles for promoting this practice, rates for exclusive breastfeeding in Nigeria are below those recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which advocates exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of baby’s life. Breastfeeding a baby exclusively for the first six months and then continued breastfeeding in addition to appropriate solid foods until twelve months and beyond has health benefits  for both mother and the child and these include;  reduction of the risk of mothers from developing gestational diabetes, osteoporosis, and breast cancer. It can also assist the women to lose weight after delivery, and also help the uterus of the women to return fast to pre-pregnant state. Advantages to the babies may also include: reduced risk of development of gastro intestinal illness, allergies, asthma, diabetes, obesity, some childhood cancer, respiratory infections and diarrhoea.

Based on the WHO Global data on infant and young Child Feeding in Nigeria, 22.3% of children were exclusively breastfed for less than 4 months, while 17.2% were exclusively breastfed for less than 6 months, in the year 2003. According to the Nigerian Demographic and Health Su

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