Assessing Mogadishu Banadir Children and Mother Hospital Healthcare Workers’ Knowledge of Exclusive Breast Feeding and Complimentary Feeding

Abstract

The aim of this study is to assess the medical as well as voluntary staff expertise and awareness on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding and system-level barriers that prevent families and communities from getting lactation assistance that might have impacted upon breastfeeding practices altogether. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to recruit a random sample of the staff working in the different units. All were interviewed through a structured questionnaire which included their knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding their skill and awareness of the matter. Descriptive as well as inferential statistics (t-test, ANOVA, and Chi-square) were employed to obtain results and their significance. The significant demographic characteristics of participants indicate that 50% were 25–35 years old, 62.5% were female, 25% were single, 50.0% were university graduates, and almost half (45%) had been full-time employees of the hospital. The staff overwhelmingly recognised that the first yellowish colostrum should be fed to the baby and the potential benefits the baby gains from the mother’s milk, such as nutrition, getting antibodies and reducing the risk of disease. Also, the maternal benefits such as reduced breast cancer and increased postpartum emotional health. In addition, the response was sweepingly positive when it came to nursing and supplemental feeding lower child morbidity and mortality. The practices that may prevent early mother-and-baby contact range from requiring the mother to lie in bed during labour and delivery to drug-induced sleep. The respondents believed that all factors contributed. With the intention of protecting every parent’s and child’s human right to breastfeed, it is vital that high-quality breastfeeding education be implemented across the health service providers (hospitals) and the entire spectrum of medical education in the country. This will facilitate future medical staff to acquire the knowledge, abilities, and attitudes necessary to practice medicine and will also help practising doctors keep their skills and competency up-to-date.