BREAST FEEDING PROMOTION IN PRIMARY HEALTH CENTER

BREAST FEEDING PROMOTION IN PRIMARY HEALTH CENTER

CHAPITRE ONE

1.0 BEGINNING

1.1 STUDY BACKGROUND

Breast feeding promotion is important for the health of nursing mothers and their children. Breast feeding has various advantages for both mothers and their children, including a lower risk of ovarian and breast cancer, a lower risk of postpartum depression, and a potential contribution to weight loss (return to pre-pregnancy weight). The family can save up to $1500 on formula costs throughout the infant’s first year of life (Haroon et al., 2013). Reduced disease incidence in the first year also contributes to significant cost savings for the family.

According to (Eidelman & Schanler, 2012; USDHHS-3, 2011), the expected cost savings in the United States if 90% of families exclusively breastfed for six months would be $13 billion in health care costs.

Lack of experience or understanding, lack of support, including from family and employers, inadequate support with troubleshooting, lack of up-to-date information from health care providers, and hospital practices that fail to promote breastfeeding are common barriers for mothers to initiate or continue breastfeeding (Brown, Raynor, & Lee, 2011; USDHHS-1, 2011).

According to (Taveras et al., 2003), provider assistance increases breastfeeding initiation and retention rates.

Primary care providers can improve breastfeeding rates by implementing the following interventions: time-specific education guidelines; presenting breastfeeding as the rule or norm, rather than the exception in infant feeding; maintaining up-to-date education and skills related to breastfeeding promotion; providing resources to support breastfeeding mothers; and developing follow-up protocols for the clinic to help women start and continue breastfeeding.

Haroon, Das, Salam, Imdad, and Bhutta (2013) found that breastfeeding promotion interventions not only dramatically raised rates of exclusive breastfeeding, but also decreased the rate of those who did not breastfeed at all. The study in this regard intends to examine breast feeding promotion using the main health center as a case study.

STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

The study on breast feeding promotion in primary health centers was prompted by a rise in the risk of malnutrition among young children.

Many mothers do not commence breastfeeding, and many others struggle to nurse entirely for the first six months of their infant’s life, or to breastfeed partially for 12 months or more. For different reasons, women and infants who do not breastfeed miss out on health and economic benefits that continue for decades (Eidelman & Schanler, 2012). Healthy People 2020 established a goal of 81.9% of moms starting nursing, 60.6% breastfeeding at six months (25.5% exclusively), and 34.1% breastfeeding at one year. Current guidelines advocate exclusive nursing until six months, followed by sustained breastfeeding until 12 months. According to current data on the prevalence of breastfeeding in the United States (US), only 74% of women commence nursing, 43.5% are still breastfeeding at six months (only 14.1% exclusively), and 22.7% are breastfeeding at one year (USDHHS-1, 2011). Breastfeeding must be prioritized in order to enhance the health of our communities and nation, and clinicians must be educated and confident in discussing breastfeeding with their patients. The majority of the literature has been conducted on breast feeding, but no research has been conducted on breast feeding promotion in Nigerian health centers.

1.3 STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The primary goal of the research is to look into breast feeding promotion in primary health care centers. Other specific study objectives include:

1. To assess the impact of breast feeding promotion on nursing mothers’ knowledge and attitudes toward breast feeding.

2. To investigate the impact of breast feeding promotion on children’s health.

3. To examine the factors influencing breast feeding promotion in primary health care settings.

4. To ascertain the role of the media and primary health care centers in the promotion of breast feeding in Nigeria.

5. To provide solutions to the aforementioned issues

1.4 QUESTIONS FOR RESEARCH

The study developed research questions in order to determine the study’s stated aims. The following are the research questions for the study:

1. What effect does breast feeding promotion have on nursing mothers’ knowledge and attitudes toward breast feeding?

2. What are the effects of breast feeding promotion on children’s health?

3. What variables influence the promotion of breast feeding in primary health care centers?

4. What is the role of the media and primary health centers in promoting breast feeding in Nigeria?

1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS STATEMENT

H0: In Nigeria, there is no major interaction between the media and primary health centers in the promotion of breast feeding.

H1: In Nigeria, there is a considerable interaction between the media and primary health care centers in the promotion of breast feeding.

1.6 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY

The study on the promotion of breast feeding in primary health centers will be extremely beneficial to the ministry of health education, Nigerian primary health centers, Nigerian societies, nursing mothers, and other researchers who wish to conduct similar research on the above topic because the study will teach nursing mothers the benefits of breast feeding; the study will also trigger the federal government of Nigeria’s campaign to promote breast feeding. Finally, the project will educate the primary health center on the various breast feeding promotion practices.

1.7 STUDY SCOPE

The study on breast feeding promotion in Nigeria is limited to primary health centers; the study will examine the benefits of breast feeding, breast feeding promotion by the federal government of Nigeria, and various breast feeding promotion tactics.

1.8 STUDY LIMITATIONS

Financial constraint- A lack of funds tends to restrict the researcher’s efficiency in locating relevant materials, literature, or information, as well as in the data collection procedure (internet, questionnaire, and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will conduct this investigation alongside other academic activities. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.

1.9 TERM DEFINITION

Enlighten:To increase (someone’s) knowledge and awareness of a subject or situation.

BREAST FEEDING: is the traditional method of giving newborn infants with the nutrients they require for healthy growth and development through breast milk.