Infant Feeding Practices and Beliefs among Mothers in Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirim Municipality, Ghana

Abstract

The study sought to investigate the current infant feeding practices and beliefs among mothers with infants aged between 0 and 12 months in Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirim Municipality. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed for the study. A structured questionnaire consisting of both closed and open-ended questions was used in collecting data from 207 mothers with babies not older than twelve months. Response rate was 100%.

Key findings from the present study demonstrated: a) more than half of participants (60.4%) said they will breastfeed their children up to 24 months, b) Though majority (97.1%) of KEEA mothers believed that breastfeeding was necessary for their children, about 77% of participants indicated that they did not believe exclusive breastfeeding was adequate in the first six months of their child's life, c) a small percentage (14%) practiced 6 months exclusive breast feeding, d) only 16.4% of mothers gave their infant's pre-lacteal feeds, e) majority of mothers (98.1%) gave their infants colostrum,

The study showed that infant feeding practices in the Municipality were far from the ideal. The situation can be improved if opinion leaders, chiefs, elderly women as well as mothers and potential mothers are involved in local health planning and education. The researcher suggested that policy makers and health workers carrying out infant feeding planning and education should be aware of the infant feeding practices and beliefs applicable to their target groups.