Attitude Towards Infant Feeding Among Health Workers in Calabar, Nigeria

Ikobah Joanah Moses; Omoronyia Ogban; Ikpeme Offiong; Ekpeyong Nnete; Utsu Caleb

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajp.20200603.43

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Attitude Towards Infant Feeding Among Health Workers in Calabar, Nigeria

Ikobah Joanah Moses, Omoronyia Ogban, Ikpeme Offiong, Ekpeyong Nnete, Utsu Caleb

Published in American Journal of Pediatrics (Volume 6, Issue 3)

Received: 16 August 2020 Accepted: 26 August 2020 Published: 7 September 2020

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Abstract

Background: Effective practice of recommended infant feeding methods is key to child survival strategy in sub-Saharan Africa. Attitude towards infant feeding has been shown to be a significant determinant of practice. For health workers, attitude may determine the propensity to counsel mothers towards adoption and adherence to recommended infant feeding practices. This study aimed at assessing health workers’ attitude towards infant feeding. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out in April 2019. Leslie Kish formula was used to recruit 225 health workers in Calabar to participate in the study. Ethical approval was obtained from the Cross River State Research and Health Ethics Committee. A validated self-administered IOWA infant feeding attitude scale was utilized in this study. Using the scale, attitude was categorized as positive for breastfeeding, neutral, and positive for formula feeding. Data was analysed using SPSS version 21.0, and p-value was set at 0.05. Result: Two hundred and twenty-five respondents completed the questionnaire. Female: male ratio was 1:0.24, the commonest age group (43.1%) was 31 to 40 years old, and 60% of respondents were nurses. Most respondents (52.9%) had neutral attitude, while 44.0% had positive attitude for breastfeeding, and 3.1% had positive attitude towards formula feeding. Age group, religion, profession, and ethnicity did not significantly influence attitude towards breastfeeding (p>0.05). Conclusion: Neutral attitude towards breastfeeding was common among health workers. This has implications for successful implementation of the recommended breastfeeding initiative towards improvement in child survival especially in resource-poor settings. Regular re-training of health workers is needed, especially through continuing educational effort by the various health professional bodies.

Published in	American Journal of Pediatrics (Volume 6, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajp.20200603.43
Page(s)	368-372
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Infant Feeding, Child Survival, Health Workers Attitude, Nigeria

References

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[3]	Pérez-Escamilla R, Martinez J, Segura-Pérez S. Impact of the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative on breastfeeding and child health outcomes: a systematic review. Maternal & child nutrition. 2016; 12 (3): 402-17.
[4]	Brown A, Raynor P, Lee M. Healthcare professionals’ and mothers’ perceptions of factors that influence decisions to breastfeed or formula feed infants: a comparative study. Journal of advanced nursing. 2011; 67 (9): 1993-2003.
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[6]	Chale L, Fenton T, Kayange N. Predictors of knowledge and practice of exclusive breastfeeding among health workers in Mwanza city, northwest Tanzania. BMC Nursing. 2016; 15 (72): 2-8.
[7]	Samuel FO, Olaolorun FM, Adeniyi JD. A training intervention on child feeding among primary healthcare workers in Ibadan Municipality. Afr J Prm Health Care Fam Med 2016; 8 (1): 78-84.
[8]	Leslie Kish. Survey sampling. Wiley-Interscience; 1995 Feb 6.
[9]	Ndebbio TJ, Samson-Akpan PE, Essien NC, John ME. Mothers' knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices concerning exclusive breastfeeding in Calabar, Nigeria. Africa Journal of Nursing and Midwifery. 2009 Jan 1; 11 (1): 65-75.
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[11]	Zaman S, Ashraf RN, Marteines J: Training in Complementary feeding counselling of healthcare workers and its influence on maternal behaviours and child growth: a cluster-randomised controlled trial in Lahere Pakistan. J Health Popul Nutr 2008; 26 (2): 210-222.
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[14]	Robertson A. U. N. Agencies joins to protect breastfeeding in ex-Yugoslavia. BFHI News, November 1994.
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[17]	Anyanwu O, Okike C. The practice of breastfeeding by healthcare workers in the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, southeastern Nigeria. South African Journal of Child Health. 2014; 8 (2): 55-58.
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APA Style

Ikobah Joanah Moses, Omoronyia Ogban, Ikpeme Offiong, Ekpeyong Nnete, Utsu Caleb. (2020). Attitude Towards Infant Feeding Among Health Workers in Calabar, Nigeria. American Journal of Pediatrics, 6(3), 368-372. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20200603.43

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ACS Style

Ikobah Joanah Moses; Omoronyia Ogban; Ikpeme Offiong; Ekpeyong Nnete; Utsu Caleb. Attitude Towards Infant Feeding Among Health Workers in Calabar, Nigeria. Am. J. Pediatr. 2020, 6(3), 368-372. doi: 10.11648/j.ajp.20200603.43

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AMA Style

Ikobah Joanah Moses, Omoronyia Ogban, Ikpeme Offiong, Ekpeyong Nnete, Utsu Caleb. Attitude Towards Infant Feeding Among Health Workers in Calabar, Nigeria. Am J Pediatr. 2020;6(3):368-372. doi: 10.11648/j.ajp.20200603.43

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@article{10.11648/j.ajp.20200603.43,
  author = {Ikobah Joanah Moses and Omoronyia Ogban and Ikpeme Offiong and Ekpeyong Nnete and Utsu Caleb},
  title = {Attitude Towards Infant Feeding Among Health Workers in Calabar, Nigeria},
  journal = {American Journal of Pediatrics},
  volume = {6},
  number = {3},
  pages = {368-372},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajp.20200603.43},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20200603.43},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajp.20200603.43},
  abstract = {Background: Effective practice of recommended infant feeding methods is key to child survival strategy in sub-Saharan Africa. Attitude towards infant feeding has been shown to be a significant determinant of practice. For health workers, attitude may determine the propensity to counsel mothers towards adoption and adherence to recommended infant feeding practices. This study aimed at assessing health workers’ attitude towards infant feeding. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out in April 2019. Leslie Kish formula was used to recruit 225 health workers in Calabar to participate in the study. Ethical approval was obtained from the Cross River State Research and Health Ethics Committee. A validated self-administered IOWA infant feeding attitude scale was utilized in this study. Using the scale, attitude was categorized as positive for breastfeeding, neutral, and positive for formula feeding. Data was analysed using SPSS version 21.0, and p-value was set at 0.05. Result: Two hundred and twenty-five respondents completed the questionnaire. Female: male ratio was 1:0.24, the commonest age group (43.1%) was 31 to 40 years old, and 60% of respondents were nurses. Most respondents (52.9%) had neutral attitude, while 44.0% had positive attitude for breastfeeding, and 3.1% had positive attitude towards formula feeding. Age group, religion, profession, and ethnicity did not significantly influence attitude towards breastfeeding (p>0.05). Conclusion: Neutral attitude towards breastfeeding was common among health workers. This has implications for successful implementation of the recommended breastfeeding initiative towards improvement in child survival especially in resource-poor settings. Regular re-training of health workers is needed, especially through continuing educational effort by the various health professional bodies.},
 year = {2020}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - Attitude Towards Infant Feeding Among Health Workers in Calabar, Nigeria
AU - Ikobah Joanah Moses
AU - Omoronyia Ogban
AU - Ikpeme Offiong
AU - Ekpeyong Nnete
AU - Utsu Caleb
Y1 - 2020/09/07
PY - 2020
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20200603.43
DO - 10.11648/j.ajp.20200603.43
T2 - American Journal of Pediatrics
JF - American Journal of Pediatrics
JO - American Journal of Pediatrics
SP - 368
EP - 372
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2472-0909
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20200603.43
AB - Background: Effective practice of recommended infant feeding methods is key to child survival strategy in sub-Saharan Africa. Attitude towards infant feeding has been shown to be a significant determinant of practice. For health workers, attitude may determine the propensity to counsel mothers towards adoption and adherence to recommended infant feeding practices. This study aimed at assessing health workers’ attitude towards infant feeding. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out in April 2019. Leslie Kish formula was used to recruit 225 health workers in Calabar to participate in the study. Ethical approval was obtained from the Cross River State Research and Health Ethics Committee. A validated self-administered IOWA infant feeding attitude scale was utilized in this study. Using the scale, attitude was categorized as positive for breastfeeding, neutral, and positive for formula feeding. Data was analysed using SPSS version 21.0, and p-value was set at 0.05. Result: Two hundred and twenty-five respondents completed the questionnaire. Female: male ratio was 1:0.24, the commonest age group (43.1%) was 31 to 40 years old, and 60% of respondents were nurses. Most respondents (52.9%) had neutral attitude, while 44.0% had positive attitude for breastfeeding, and 3.1% had positive attitude towards formula feeding. Age group, religion, profession, and ethnicity did not significantly influence attitude towards breastfeeding (p>0.05). Conclusion: Neutral attitude towards breastfeeding was common among health workers. This has implications for successful implementation of the recommended breastfeeding initiative towards improvement in child survival especially in resource-poor settings. Regular re-training of health workers is needed, especially through continuing educational effort by the various health professional bodies.
VL - 6
IS - 3
ER -

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Author Information

Ikobah Joanah Moses

Department of Paediatrics, University of Calabar/University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria
Omoronyia Ogban

Department of Community Medicine, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria; Department of Community Medicine, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria
Ikpeme Offiong

Department of Paediatrics, University of Calabar/University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria
Ekpeyong Nnete

Department of Community Medicine, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria; Department of Community Medicine, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria
Utsu Caleb

Department of Community Medicine, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria

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APA Style

Ikobah Joanah Moses, Omoronyia Ogban, Ikpeme Offiong, Ekpeyong Nnete, Utsu Caleb. (2020). Attitude Towards Infant Feeding Among Health Workers in Calabar, Nigeria. American Journal of Pediatrics, 6(3), 368-372. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20200603.43

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ACS Style

Ikobah Joanah Moses; Omoronyia Ogban; Ikpeme Offiong; Ekpeyong Nnete; Utsu Caleb. Attitude Towards Infant Feeding Among Health Workers in Calabar, Nigeria. Am. J. Pediatr. 2020, 6(3), 368-372. doi: 10.11648/j.ajp.20200603.43

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AMA Style

Ikobah Joanah Moses, Omoronyia Ogban, Ikpeme Offiong, Ekpeyong Nnete, Utsu Caleb. Attitude Towards Infant Feeding Among Health Workers in Calabar, Nigeria. Am J Pediatr. 2020;6(3):368-372. doi: 10.11648/j.ajp.20200603.43

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@article{10.11648/j.ajp.20200603.43,
  author = {Ikobah Joanah Moses and Omoronyia Ogban and Ikpeme Offiong and Ekpeyong Nnete and Utsu Caleb},
  title = {Attitude Towards Infant Feeding Among Health Workers in Calabar, Nigeria},
  journal = {American Journal of Pediatrics},
  volume = {6},
  number = {3},
  pages = {368-372},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajp.20200603.43},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20200603.43},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajp.20200603.43},
  abstract = {Background: Effective practice of recommended infant feeding methods is key to child survival strategy in sub-Saharan Africa. Attitude towards infant feeding has been shown to be a significant determinant of practice. For health workers, attitude may determine the propensity to counsel mothers towards adoption and adherence to recommended infant feeding practices. This study aimed at assessing health workers’ attitude towards infant feeding. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out in April 2019. Leslie Kish formula was used to recruit 225 health workers in Calabar to participate in the study. Ethical approval was obtained from the Cross River State Research and Health Ethics Committee. A validated self-administered IOWA infant feeding attitude scale was utilized in this study. Using the scale, attitude was categorized as positive for breastfeeding, neutral, and positive for formula feeding. Data was analysed using SPSS version 21.0, and p-value was set at 0.05. Result: Two hundred and twenty-five respondents completed the questionnaire. Female: male ratio was 1:0.24, the commonest age group (43.1%) was 31 to 40 years old, and 60% of respondents were nurses. Most respondents (52.9%) had neutral attitude, while 44.0% had positive attitude for breastfeeding, and 3.1% had positive attitude towards formula feeding. Age group, religion, profession, and ethnicity did not significantly influence attitude towards breastfeeding (p>0.05). Conclusion: Neutral attitude towards breastfeeding was common among health workers. This has implications for successful implementation of the recommended breastfeeding initiative towards improvement in child survival especially in resource-poor settings. Regular re-training of health workers is needed, especially through continuing educational effort by the various health professional bodies.},
 year = {2020}
}

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