Knowledge, attitude and practice of health workers in Keffi local government hospitals regarding Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) practices

Abstract

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of health workers towards Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) practices and thereafter plan an advocacy on BFHI training of the workers. Design: A randomised cross-sectional study. Seting: Ten out of 16 health facilities reflecting all the levels of healthcare provision in Keffi Local Government Area in Nassarawa State, Nigeria, were selected. Staff of these health facilities had not received BFHI training, although breastfeeding is the norm in this population, exclusive breastfeeding is almost zero. Subjects: A total of 250 health workers (six doctors, 160 nurses and 84 auxiliary staff) met in the health facilities at the time of interview. Intervention: A structured questionnaire based on 10 steps to successful breastfeeding was administered by one of the authors and a Lactad nurse between July and October 1995. Results: Fifty-two (20.8%) were aware of the need for initiating breastfeeding within 30 min of birth and 92 (36.8%) were aware of breastfeeding support groups. However, there were significant differences in the level of awareness among the doctors compared to the other categories of health staff (P < 0.05). Also, 48 (19.2%) of the health workers believed that babies less than 6 months of age should not be given water (statistical difference (P < 0.05) between doctors' attitude and that of the other health workers). Thirteen (5.22%) health workers could demonstrate correct positioning and attachment. Conclusion: There was general lack of awareness of some major recommended practices in the hospitals that will promote and sustain breastfeeding. There is therefore the need for policy changes and BFHI training for the staff of these health facilities to respond to the concern and growing need for proper infant=young child feeding.

Knowledge and Practice of Exclusive Breast Feeding Among Mothers in Gbarantoru Community, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

“…This highlights the importance of using the mass media as an alternative means of disseminating health information since about 46.8% of Nigerian mothers deliver outside health facilities 30 and as such, may not have the privilege of getting infant feeding information from health workers. In Columbia, the use of mass media was assessed as being more effective in reaching pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers than health and educational agents.…”

“…26 Though Health workers knowledge and attitude have been identified as a major factor influencing exclusive breastfeeding rates in some communities, [27][28][29] one wonders if these health workers are actually giving the mothers correct exclusive breast feeding information. Okolo and Ogbonna 30 carried out a study to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of health workers towards baby friendly hospital initiative in Keffi Local Government Area of Nigeria. They reported a low level of knowledge with 80.8% of them believing that babies less than 6 months on breast milk should also be given water.…”

Cross-sectional comparative study of the effect of refresher training on the knowledge, attitude and practices of urban primary health care providers

“…4,6,[14][15][16][17][18] On questions pertaining to Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses (IMNCI), Infant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN) and Oral rehydration solution (ORS), nearly 50% of both ANMs and LWs responded correctly in the pre-test and also showed significant improvement in their post-test scores. (Tables 1 and 2) Other researchers [20][21][22] have reported lack of awareness among paramedical staff on various aspects of neonatal and child care.…”

Nivel de conocimiento, actitud y experiencias de los profesionales de la salud respecto de la lactancia y la leche materna en una ciudad de Turquía: Estudio transversal

“…18 En diferentes estudios, el 35% de los participantes respaldaron la lactancia materna exclusiva durante los primeros seis meses de vida, y el 27,5% y el 36% fomentaban continuar con la lactancia hasta los dos años. 19,20 Ramakrishnan y cols., observaron que el 32,7% de las madres atendidas por obstetras y el 44,8% de las madres atendidas por pediatras tenían la percepción de que el profesional de la salud les había recomendado la lactancia materna exclusiva durante el primer mes de vida solamente. 21 En nuestro estudio, se observó que la mayoría de los participantes (94,9%) respaldaban la lactancia materna exclusiva durante los primeros seis meses y que el 84,8% fomentaban continuar con la lactancia materna hasta los dos años.…”