CHALLENGES TO BREASTFEEDING DURING THE FIRST FOUR WEEKS POSTPARTUM AMONG MOTHERS AGED 18 – 29 YEARS, WHO ATTEND SELECTED CLINICS IN ELEUTHERA, THE BAHAMAS

Abstract

The present study seeks to investigate the breastfeeding challenges mothers on the Bahamian island of Eleuthera face, and propose strategies to improve the situation. Purposive sampling was utilized to recruit mothers from selected health centers in Eleuthera, the Bahamas (N=51). The study utilized a cross-sectional, quantitative research design wherein a forced choice, closeended survey questionnaire using Likert Type scale to elicit data from the research participants. Demographic data was analyzed using descriptive analysis, while ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) was used to determine the relationship between demographic variables (independent variable) and breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes and practices (dependent variables) using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 26. The findings demonstrated that the relationship between breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes and practices and demographic variables such as educational level, marital status, maternal parity and religion was not statistically significant. The implications of the finding are that health centers can enable mothers to overcome breastfeeding challenges, by improving breastfeeding knowledge through advocacy, education and awareness. Important recommendations pertaining to nursing interventions and social support programs for initiating and continuing breastfeeding among Bahamian mothers and focusing on erasing the social stigma associated with breastfeeding to improve breastfeeding rates were also made.