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Factors influencing the duration of exclusive breastfeeding in Ghana
Author(s) -
Otoo Gloria Ethel,
Lartey Anna A.,
PérezEscamilla Rafael
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a687
Subject(s) - breastfeeding , medicine , breast feeding , focus group , breastfeeding promotion , promotion (chess) , shyness , incentive , pediatrics , environmental health , demography , psychiatry , business , anxiety , marketing , sociology , politics , political science , economics , law , microeconomics
This study assesses the feasibility of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in Ghana's Eastern region. We conducted 4 focus group to elicit the perceived incentives and barriers to exclusively breastfeed. The 35 breastfeeding mothers recruited from the Manya and Yilo Krobo districts of the Eastern region, had a mean age of 27.5 years and had at least one child <4 months old. Almost all of the participants believed that EBF is superior for infants for the first 6 months and should be the preferred infant feeding method. However, there was a widespread belief that infants can be given water if it is clean. The main obstacles to EBF identified were: maternal occupation, breast problems (e.g., sore nipples), shyness to breastfeed in public, fear of sagging breasts, infant refusal to BF and perceived milk insufficiency. Mothers reported that EBF was easy when breasts are full and breastmilk is flowing. In Ghana where a strong BF tradition exists, addressing the concerns put forward by these participants can be used to enhance EBF promotion in this region. Funded by NIH grant HD43620 .