Abstract
BackgroundHealth workers are in a strategic position to provide correct information to mothers on breastfeeding practice. This study assessed knowledge of breastfeeding among health workers in health facilities in Calabar.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional descriptive study. A 45-item self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain data. Ethical clearance for the study was obtained from the Cross River State Research and Ethics Committee. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, USA). A knowledge score of at least 90% was considered satisfactory. Factors associated with the level of knowledge were determined using chi-square. The p-value was set at 0.05.ResultTwo hundred and twenty-five healthcare professionals were surveyed, with a mean age of 37.5 ± 9.4 years, ranging from 20 to 65 years. The commonest age group was 41 to 50 years (43.1%). Females (80.9%) formed a larger proportion of participants with a female-male ratio of 4:1. The mean percentage of knowledge score was 85.1 ± 9.0%. A satisfactory level of knowledge was found in 27.1% of respondents. About one-third (33.7%) and one-fifth (21.8%) of health workers were not aware of the weight control benefit and protection against osteoporosis of breastmilk, respectively. Approximately one-fifth (22.2%) of respondents had misconceptions concerning the effects of colostrum on the prevention of neonatal jaundice. Nurses with diploma level of training had a satisfactory level of knowledge, compared with other professions (p < 0.05).ConclusionHealth workers’ knowledge of breastfeeding was generally good though suboptimal. Health-related professions should provide current information on the best breastfeeding practices.
Highlights
Breastfeeding is a public health strategy for improving infant morbidity and mortality [1]
The exclusive breastfeeding rate for children under six months in Nigeria is 29% following the 2018 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) with the average duration of exclusive breastfeeding in Nigeria being 2.8 months [4]
Most subjects knew the benefits of breastfeeding to babies and mothers, except for knowledge items 9 and 11, where approximately one-third (33.7%) and one-fifth (21.8%) did not know of the weight control benefit and protection against osteoporosis, respectively
Summary
Breastfeeding is a public health strategy for improving infant morbidity and mortality [1]. Exclusive breastfeeding decreases the risk of mortality from diarrhea and pneumonia [2]. It supports the immune system of the infant and could protect from later life non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and obesity [2]. The exclusive breastfeeding rate for children under six months in Nigeria is 29% following the 2018 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) with the average duration of exclusive breastfeeding in Nigeria being 2.8 months [4]. This is the highest in Nigeria in the last decade from 2008 to 2018, where the rate was 13% in 2008 and 17% in 2013% [4,5]. This study assessed knowledge of breastfeeding among health workers in health facilities in Calabar
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