Impact of a formal antenatal breastfeeding education program on the acceptance and attitudes towards exclusive breastfeeding among mothers and grandmothers in rural Haiti
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2018
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Background: Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life reduces infant mortality and morbidity. A systematic review concluded that when an infant’s grandmother had a positive attitude towards breastfeeding, the mothers were 1.6 to 12.4 times more likely to exclusively breastfeed or refrain from early complimentary feeding. Evidence shows that mothers are not the sole decision makers when deciding whether to exclusively breastfeed or not. Despite widespread knowledge that grandmothers have the potential to influence a mothers exclusive breastfeeding decision, most breastfeeding education programs are only targeted towards mothers. In this study, we aim to investigate the impact of a formal antenatal breastfeeding education program on the acceptance and attitudes towards exclusive breastfeeding among mothers and grandmothers in rural Haiti. Methods: A convenience sample of pregnant women (16 years of age and older), who were attending the Carmelle Voltaire Women’s Clinic in Fondwa, Haiti between June-July of 2017, participated in a breastfeeding education program and completed a 17-item Infant Exclusive Breastfeeding Attitudes Questionnaire together with the infant’s grandmother. Data was collected at baseline, post-intervention, and one week after the intervention. Results: The Infant Exclusive Breastfeeding Attitudes Questionnaire was completed by 25 expectant mothers, and 10 maternal grandmothers. The Family member with the greatest influence on expectant mother’s breastfeeding practices according to expectant mothers, were maternal grandmothers. The formal antenatal breastfeeding education program had a positive impact on expectant mothers and grandmothers breastfeeding attitudes. Conclusion: This finding suggests that targeting grandmothers through breastfeeding promotion programs may be an effective means of increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates in rural Haiti.
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Kadima, Sangi Naomie (2018). Impact of a formal antenatal breastfeeding education program on the acceptance and attitudes towards exclusive breastfeeding among mothers and grandmothers in rural Haiti. Master's thesis, Duke University. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/17068.
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