Abstrakt
Background: Physician-mothers’ breastfeeding behaviour is being studied because it is believed to impact their anticipatory guidance to their patients, which in turn influences patients’ breastfeeding initiation and continuation. Study assessed the breastfeeding practices of physician-mothers; their reasons for stopping exclusive breastfeeding and factors associated with their breastfeeding practices.
Methods: Study design was cross-sectional, conducted in Osun East Senatorial District, Nigeria. A self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was administered to all eligible 56 physician-mothers in public primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities in the reproductive age-group whose youngest child was aged d”five years. Informed consentwas obtained. Outcome measures were time breastfeeding was initiated, duration of exclusive breastfeeding; reasons for stopping exclusive breastfeeding and duration of continued breastfeeding. Data was analysed using SPSS version 17, statistical significance was determined at p-value <0.05.
Results: Fifty (89.3%) responded. Seventy per cent initiated breastfeeding within 1hour after birth; exclusive breastfeeding rate was 28.0% with a mean duration of 4.1 ± 1.9months. Mean duration of continued breastfeeding was 14.5 ± 4.5months. Commonest reason for stopping exclusive breastfeeding was ‘baby old enough’ (35.8%). Mode of delivery was statistically significantly associated with time to initiate breastfeeding. Time to initiate breastfeeding was statistically significantly associated with duration of exclusive breastfeeding.
Conclusion: Breastfeeding practices of physician-mothers do not conform to the standards in the Innocenti Declaration. The impact of this on their professional support to clients’ should be measured in further studies. It is recommended that targeted interventions be done to improve the attitude and breastfeeding practices of physicianmothers.
Keywords: Exclusive breastfeeding, breastfeeding initiation, physician-mothers
Résumé
Contexte: Une étude a été faite sur le comportement de l’allaitement maternel des médecin-mères ; car ce comportement a d’impact sur leur conseils préventifs à leurs patients et qui, à son tour, a d’ influence sur l’initiation et la continuation de l’allaitement des patients. Cette étude a évalué les pratiques d’allaitement des médecins-mères, leurs raisons de cesser l’allaitement et les facteurs liés à leurs pratiques d’allaitement maternel exclusif.
Méthodes: La conception de cette étude, menée dans la région Est de l’Etat d’Osun, au Nigeria, était transversale. Un questionnaire semi-structuré auto-administré a été distribué à 56 médecins-mères admissibles dans les centres de santé et dans les hôpitaux en tenant compte du groupe d’âge de reproduction dont le plus jeune enfant était cinq ans. Un consentement clair a été obtenu. Partant des résultats obtenus, les femmes sont instruites sur les mesures de temps d’allaitement, la durée de l’allaitement maternel exclusif; les raisons d’arrêter l’allaitement maternel exclusif et la durée de l’allaitement maternel prolongé. Les données ont été analysées avec le logiciel SPSS, version 17. La signification statistique a été déterminée à p <0,05.
Résultats: Cinquante soit (89,3%) des personnes interrogées ont répondu ; Soixante-dix pour cent ont commencé à allaiter une heure après la naissance ; le taux d’allaitement maternel exclusif était 28,0% avec une durée moyenne de 4,1 ± 1,9 mois. La durée moyenne de l’allaitement maternel était 14,5 ± 4,5 mois. La raison la plus courante de l’arrêt d’allaitement exclusif était souvent « le bébé est assez âgé» (35,8%). La mode de livraison était très statistiquement liée au temps du commencement de l’allaitement. Le commencement de l’allaitement était aussi statistiquement lié à la durée de l’allaitement exclusif.
Conclusion: Les pratiques de l’allaitement maternel des médecin-mères ne sont pas conformes aux normes de la « Déclaration Innocenti ». L’impact de cette situation sur leur soutien professionnel aux clients » sera évalué dans des études ultérieures. Des interventions ciblées ont été recommandées pour améliorer les pratiques de l’attitude de l’allaitement des médecins-mères
Correspondence: Dr. Oluwaseun T. Esan, Department of Community Health, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. E-mail:seunkayo@yahoo.com; seundare 2004@gmail.com
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