Socio-Economic Characteristics of Infants and Nursing Mothers: Implication for Breastfeeding Refusal Attitudes and Reasons for Re- Breastfeeding in Nsukka urban, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined socio-economic characteristics of nursing mothers and infants as they related to breastfeeding refusal attitudes and reasons for re-breasting in Nsukka urban of Enugu state. Random sampling technique was used to select 200 out of a population of 2,265 nursing mothers whose infants had refused breastfeeding. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Results showed that all the infants who were mostly females had refused breastfeeding at or before twelve months of age before being re-breast fed. The nursing mothers (61%) were between 25-29 years, 75% had secondary and up to tertiary levels of education. Their average household size was 4 persons and 89% of them were living below the global poverty line of two dollars a day. Being restless and crying once breast was in their mouths were among the infants’ breastfeeding refusal attitudes. Approaches adopted by nursing mothers in re-breastfeeding their infants were dealing with immediate and remote causes that included improper holding of breasts and nasal congestion with significant influence of nursing mothers’ educational qualifications. Nursing mothers’ reasons for re-breastfeeding were for proper emotional, physical and cognitive development of their infants which were not significantly influenced by infants’ gender. Inclusion of skills in proper holding of breasts while breastfeeding during antenatal clinics and further research were recommended.

Keywords

• breastfeeding refusal
• infants
• nursing mothers
• socio-economic