Article Sidebar

Download
View Full Article XML S.I.S
Statistic
Read Counter : 117 Download : 52

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Main Article Content

Abstract

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), recommended for the first six months of life, faces notable adherence challenges among working mothers in urban environments. This study investigates the facilitators and barriers affecting EBF practices among working mothers in the Ga North Municipality, a diverse Greater Accra Region urban region. Employing a facility-based cross-sectional design, the research captures responses from 380 working mothers using a structured questionnaire developed through extensive literature reviews. Results indicate a high awareness of EBF benefits among participants; however, practical implementation challenges persist due to workplace demands, cultural norms, and lack of supportive infrastructure. A significant 91.1% of respondents observed positive health changes in their infants, yet 46.1% described difficulties in maintaining EBF due to work-related constraints. Cultural practices and workplace inflexibility were noted as major impediments, alongside physical and emotional challenges faced by mothers. Despite these obstacles, 83.9% of the mothers would recommend EBF to others, highlighting a positive disposition towards EBF amidst challenges. The study suggests that enhancing workplace policies and culturally sensitive educational campaigns could improve EBF rates and overall maternal and child health outcomes. This research underscores the need for targeted interventions to bridge the gap between knowledge and practice, facilitating better support for breastfeeding mothers in similar urban settings.

Keywords

Exclusive Breastfeeding Working Mothers Urban Health Nursing Mothers Breastfeeding Barriers Breastfeeding Policy

Article Details

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

References

  1. Albeshan, S., Shubayr, N., & Alashban, Y. (2023). Assessment of Knowledge and Awareness About Breast Self-Examination Among University Female Students in Saudi Arabia. Breast Cancer: Targets and Therapy, 15, 91–99. https://doi.org/10.2147/BCTT.S396903
  2. Andrews, E. E., Powell, R. M., & Ayers, K. B. (2021). Experiences of Breastfeeding among Disabled Women. Women’s Health Issues, 31(1), 82–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2020.09.001
  3. Avcin, E., & Kucukoglu, S. (2021). The effect of breastfeeding, kangaroo care, and facilitated tucking positioning in reducing the pain during heel stick in neonates. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 61, 410–416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.10.002
  4. Colaceci, S., Apuzzo, L., Solfizi, M., Trivelli, G., Di Tora, S., Dellafiore, F., Iodice, M., Giusti, A., Zambri, F., & Marchetti, F. (2023). ‘They put the baby on me; the life I felt growing inside me was finally taking shape’. Lived experiences of women with vision impairments during pregnancy and motherhood: A phenomenological qualitative study. Midwifery, 116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2022.103535
  5. Cowley, K. C. (2007). Equipment and modifications that enabled infant child-care by a mother with C8 tetraplegia: A case report. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 2(1), 59–65. https://doi.org/10.1080/17483100600995110
  6. Duijts, L., Jaddoe, V. W. V., Hofman, A., & Moll, H. A. (2010). Prolonged and exclusive breastfeeding reduces the risk of infectious diseases in infancy. Pediatrics, 126(1). https://doi.org/10.1542/PEDS.2008-3256
  7. Girard, L.-C., Doyle, O., & Tremblay, R. E. (2017). Breastfeeding, Cognitive and Noncognitive Development in Early Childhood: A Population Study. Pediatrics, 139(4), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-1848
  8. Gray, K. D., Hannon, E. A., Erickson, E., Stewart, A. B., Wood, C. T., Fisher, K., Shaikh, S. K., & Tanaka, D. (2021). Influence of Early Lactation Assistance on Inpatient Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates. Journal of Human Lactation, 37(3), 556–565. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890334420957967
  9. Holmgren, T., Lee, A. H. X., Hocaloski, S., Hamilton, L. J., Hellsing, I., Elliott, S., Hultling, C., & Krassioukov, A. V. (2018). The Influence of Spinal Cord Injury on Breastfeeding Ability and Behavior. Journal of Human Lactation, 34(3), 556–565. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890334418774014
  10. Horner-Johnson, W., Darney, B. G., Kulkarni-Rajasekhara, S., Quigley, B., & Caughey, A. B. (2016). Pregnancy among US women: Differences by presence, type, and complexity of disability. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 214(4), 529.e1-529.e9. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.AJOG.2015.10.929
  11. Horta, B. L., Loret De Mola, C., & Victora, C. G. (2015). Long-term consequences of breastfeeding on cholesterol, obesity, systolic blood pressure and type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics, 104, 30–37. https://doi.org/10.1111/APA.13133
  12. Lee, A. H. X., Wen, B., Hocaloski, S., Sandholdt, N., Hultling, C., Elliott, S. L., & Krassioukov, A. V. (2019). Breastfeeding Before and After Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Report of a Mother With C6 Tetraplegia. Journal of Human Lactation, 35(4), 742–747. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890334419844234
  13. Medeiros, A. C. F., & Bettes, P. S. L. (2023). Incidence of breast nodules in young women from 15 to 35 years: a literature review. In DEVELOPMENT AND ITS APPLICATIONS IN SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE. Seven Editora. https://doi.org/10.56238/devopinterscie-091
  14. Mitchell, K. B., & Johnson, H. M. (2022). Breast Conditions in the Breastfeeding Mother. Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession, 572–593. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-68013-4.00016-X
  15. Patui, N. S., Yudiana, A. A., Wandira, B. A., & Aulia, U. (2023). Factors Associated with Breast Self-Examination Behavior (BSE) in Young Women. Journal of Health and Nutrition Research, 2(1), 33–39. https://doi.org/10.56303/jhnresearch.v2i1.117
  16. Penniston, T., Reynolds, K., Pierce, S., Furer, P., & Lionberg, C. (2021). Challenges, supports, and postpartum mental health symptoms among non-breastfeeding mothers. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 24(2), 303–312. https://doi.org/10.1007/S00737-020-01059-3
  17. Powell, R. M., Mitra, M., Smeltzer, S. C., Long-Bellil, L. M., Smith, L. D., Rosenthal, E., & Iezzoni, L. I. (2019). Adaptive parenting strategies used by mothers with physical disabilities caring for infants and toddlers. Health and Social Care in the Community, 27(4), 889–898. https://doi.org/10.1111/HSC.12706
  18. Pozzilli, C., & Pugliatti, M. (2015). An overview of pregnancy-related issues in patients with multiple sclerosis. European Journal of Neurology, 22, 34–39. https://doi.org/10.1111/ENE.12797
  19. Rao, S., Jain, A., Budh, N., Sethuraman, A. R., Bachawandia, H., & Singh, M. (2022). Knowledge, attitude and practice about breast cancer and Breast self-examination among reproductive age group women in community. Www.Gjmedph.Com, 11(5), 2022. www.gjmedph.com
  20. Silveira, S. L., Cederberg, K. L. J., Jeng, B., Sikes, E. M., Sandroff, B. M., Jones, C. D., & Motl, R. W. (2021). Do physical activity and social cognitive theory variable scores differ across symptom cluster severity groups in multiple sclerosis? Disability and Health Journal, 14(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2021.101163
  21. Smeltzer, S. C. (2007). Pregnancy in women with physical disabilities. JOGNN - Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 36(1), 88–96. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6909.2006.00121.x
  22. Wallenborn, J. T., Levine, G. A., Carreira dos Santos, A., Grisi, S., Brentani, A., & Fink, G. (2021). Breastfeeding, Physical Growth, and Cognitive Development. Pediatrics, 147(5), e2020008029. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-008029
  23. Warkentin, T., Hermann, S., & Berndl, A. (2021). Breastfeeding positions and techniques used by Canadians with physical disabilities. Disability and Health Journal, 14(4), 101151. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.DHJO.2021.101151
  24. Yu, J., Gao, Y., Wang, H., Liu, B., & Zhang, S. (2023). Structural equation modeling analysis of determinants of barriers to breast selfexamination among Eastern Chinese women. PLoS ONE, 18(3 March). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0283525
  25. Zakaria, R., Astuti, S. C. D., Agustini, R. D., Damiti, S. A., & Mashar, H. M. (2024). Mastitis Pain In Postpartum Mothers Using Plumeria Rubra L Ointment. Kemas, 19(3), 379–387. https://doi.org/10.15294/KEMAS.V19I3.45857