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.
Highlights
Breastfeeding is linked to positive maternal health outcomes the practice itself is not so common or frequent, despite the advantages linked to it
Demographic factors associate with education level, religion, maternal parity and marital status do not influence knowledge, attitudes and breastfeeding practice in a statistically significant manner
Given that the sample was selected from a target population that was confined to a particular geographical region and shared similar attributes, the homogeneity of the sample makes it difficult to generalize the results across wider segments of postnatal mothers in different nations and cultures, besides limited generalizability of results to Bahamian mothers in other areas
Summary
Breastfeeding is linked to positive maternal health outcomes the practice itself is not so common or frequent, despite the advantages linked to it. The theory considers three types of beliefs: normative, management and behavioral and six constructs representing the behavior of an individual, namely behavioral intention, social and subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and perceived power. Research exploring the intention of pregnant mothers to breastfeed their infant and the role of beliefs in the theory of planned behavior identifies behavioral, normative and control beliefsserving to influence the intention to engage in breastfeeding practices. The Theory of Planned Behavior links behavior and belief in empirical research, examining how behavior and intentions are shaped by attitudes towards a particular behavior, perceived behavioral control and subjective norms. Conventional negative values and lack of knowledge minimize breastfeeding, wherein normative beliefs influence how others perceive the practice of breastfeeding and directly influence whether mothers think it is right or wrong to breastfeed. Stickney and Heywood have identified individual, group and society know-how. [15] In negative forms such as body imlevel breastfeeding challenges. [11]
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