Breastfeeding Compliance and Associated Factors Among First-Time Mothers at A Government Hospital in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization advocates for the exclusive provision of breast milk to infants during the initial six months of their life. [2].However, compliance with this recommendation varies widely across different populations and is influenced by a complex interplay of demographic, psychosocial, and cultural factors. [3,10,13,22,23]. This study is designed to delve into the intricacies of breastfeeding practices among first-time mothers in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, focusing on understanding how various factors contribute to compliance rates within this demographic.Methods: Using a cluster sampling approach, a quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 participants at a government hospital in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan in November 2023. These statistical methods, namely Pearson Chi-square and Pearson's correlation, were employed to analyse and comprehend the associations and relationships.Results: Most participants were aged 25 to 29 years (nearly 80%), with "Single" (55.3%) and "Married" (42.7%) statuses dominating. A significant proportion fell within lower to middle-income brackets, primarily earning below 9100 PHP (36.0%) and between 18,200 to 36,400 PHP (26.0%). "Full-time" employment (34.7%) and "College Graduates" (36.7%) constituted the largest segments in employment and educational status, respectively. Data shows that respondents are highly compliant with breastfeeding behaviours post-delivery (GWA=3.87). Breastfeeding knowledge scores reflected high awareness of its benefits and health advantages for both mother and baby (GWA=3.87), aligning strongly with health workers' recommendations on exclusive breastfeeding and proper techniques (GWA=4.24). Psychosocial factors revealed high confidence in managing breastfeeding challenges and satisfaction with the experience (GWA=4.24). Income, age, education, and employment are strongly associated with breastfeeding compliance, notably, income exhibiting the strongest correlation (R=0.513, p=0.000).This underscores income's substantial influence on adherence to breastfeeding practices among first-time mothers in this setting.Conclusions: Most respondents exhibited high compliance with recommended breastfeeding behaviours post-delivery. This high compliance is notably reflected in their strong adherence to exclusive breastfeeding and proper techniques, as recommended by health workers, and a robust understanding of the benefits of breastfeeding. Additionally, participants displayed high confidence in managing breastfeeding challenges, indicating satisfaction with their overall breastfeeding experience.The study identifies income as a particularly influential factor, significantly correlating with breastfeeding compliance. This highlights the pivotal role of economic status in shaping adherence to breastfeeding practices among these first-time mothers. Overall, the findings emphasize the importance of considering various demographic factors in developing tailored interventions to further support and enhance breastfeeding practices a...