TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................ ii
APPROVAL ..................................................................................................................................iii
DEDICATION............................................................................................................................... iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.............................................................................................................. v
DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS ................................................................................................... vi
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS....................................................................................................... vii
ABSTRACT................................................................................................................................... xi
CHAPTER ONE............................................................................................................................. 1
1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 BACKGROUND ...................................................................................................................... 2
1.2 Statement of Problem................................................................................................................ 4
1.3 Objectives ................................................................................................................................. 5
1.3.1 General objective ................................................................................................................... 5
1.3.2 Specific Objectives ................................................................................................................ 5
1.4 Research questions.................................................................................................................... 5
3. What are the community factors influencing the optimal breastfeeding practice among
lactating mothers attending KIUTH, Ishaka, Uganda?................................................................... 5
1.5 Scope......................................................................................................................................... 5
1.5.1 Content scope......................................................................................................................... 5
1.5.2 Geographical scope................................................................................................................ 6
1.5.3 Time scope ............................................................................................................................. 6
1.6 Justification and significance of the study........................................................................... 6
1.7 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK............................................................................................. 7
CHAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................................ 8
LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................................... 8
1.0 Introduction............................................................................................................................... 8
ix
2.1 Prevalence/level of optimal breastfeeding practice among lactating mothers attending
KIUTH, Ishaka Uganda .................................................................................................................. 8
2.2 Maternal factors influencing the practice of optimal breastfeeding. ........................................ 9
2.2 Community factors influencing optimal breastfeeding practice............................................. 11
2.3 Optimal breastfeeding Practice ............................................................................................... 13
CHAPTER THREE ...................................................................................................................... 15
METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................................... 15
3.0 Introduction............................................................................................................................. 15
3.1 Research design ...................................................................................................................... 15
3.2 Study Population..................................................................................................................... 15
3.3 Sample size ............................................................................................................................. 15
3.4 Sampling Procedure ........................................................................................................... 16
3.5 Data collection Methods......................................................................................................... 16
3.6 Data collection procedure ....................................................................................................... 16
3.7 Quality Control ....................................................................................................................... 16
3.7.1 Training of data collection team .......................................................................................... 16
3.7.2 Pre-testing of questionnaires................................................................................................ 17
3.7.3 Reliability and validity......................................................................................................... 17
3.8 Data Analysis.......................................................................................................................... 17
3.9.1 Validity: ............................................................................................................................... 17
3.9.2 Reliability:............................................................................................................................ 18
3.10 Ethical considerations........................................................................................................... 18
3.11 Limitations......................................................................................................................... 18
CHAPTER FOUR......................................................................................................................... 20
RESULTS ..................................................................................................................................... 20
4.0 Introduction........................................................................................................................... 20
4.1 Maternal factors of the Respondents....................................................................................... 20
4.2: Optimal breastfeeding practice among lactating mothers in kiuth ........................................ 22
x
4.3: Maternal factors influencing optimal breastfeeding among lactating mothers attending KIUTH. ................................................................................................................................................ 23
4.4: Community factors influencing optimal breastfeeding among lactating mothers attending
KIUTH. ......................................................................................................................................... 25
CHAPTER FIVE .......................................................................................................................... 27
DISCUSSIONS............................................................................................................................. 27
5.0 Introduction........................................................................................................................ 27
5.1 Prevalence Optimal Breastfeeding among Lactating Mothers attending KIU-TH............ 27
5.2 Maternal factors Influencing Optimal Breastfeeding among Lactating Mothers attending
KIUTH. ......................................................................................................................................... 28
5.3 Community Factors Influencing Optimal Breastfeeding among Lactating Mothers
attending KIUTH. ......................................................................................................................... 30
CHAPTER SIX............................................................................................................................. 32
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................................................... 32
6.0 Introduction............................................................................................................................. 32
6.1: Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 32
6.2 RECOMMENDATIONS........................................................................................................ 32
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................. 34
APPENDIX 1: CONSENT FORM............................................................................................... 43
APPENDIX II: QUESTIONNAIRE............................................................................................. 44
APPENDIX III: WORK PLAN.................................................................................................... 47
APPENDIX IV: BUDGET OF THE STUDY.............................................................................. 48
ABSTRACT Background: Breastfeeding is generally considered by health professionals as the ideal feeding practice for infants. Infants can absorb and digest breast milk more easily than baby formula (The Office on Women's Health, 2012). Optimal breastfeeding rates have not been encouraging in the world with sub-optimal feeding being customized in Sub-Saharan Africa Objectives: The objectives of this study was determine the proportion of mothers practicing optimal breastfeeding as well as the maternal and community factors influencing optimal breastfeeding practices among lactating mothers attending KIUTH. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study design using quantitative and qualitative methods was used to collect data from 302 respondents. Stratified and consecutive sampling technique was used in this study. Data were analyzed using SPSS, descriptive, bi-variate and multivariate analyses at 95% confidence interval. Results: Only 67 (22.19%) of the mothers initiated breastfeeding within 0-2 hours. Hence initiation as part of optimal breastfeeding practices was poor. While 127 (42.05%) of the mothers breastfed for 6 months without introducing other food substances. Majority 176 (58.28%) of the respondents did not breast feed their children up to 2 years. Age, marital status, occupation, level of education and knowledge on OBF were among maternal factors influencing optimal breastfeeding practices among lactating mothers attending KIU-TH (p< 0.05). Cultural, Religious beliefs and Peer group encouragement on initiation, exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding were among the community factors influencing optimal breastfeeding. (p < 0.05) Conclusion/ Recommendations: The practice of optimal breastfeeding is low. Promotion of optimal breastfeeding practices such as information, communication, education etc. should be encouraged in all institutions where lactating mothers belong to, institutions such as workplace.