Factors Influencing Exclusive Breastfeeding Among Working Mothers At Kangemi Informal Settlement, Nairobi

Abstract

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) of an infant for the first months of life has been scientifically proven to reduce the likelihood of childhood illnesses such as pneumonia and diarrhoea. Additionally, EBF has other advantages for the mother and the environment. The study focused on working mothers who reside in informal settlements and the challenges they face while trying to practice exclusive breastfeeding or the opportunities they have in their environment. The study was steered by four objectives with an aim to determine the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among working mothers in the Kangemi informal settlement, establish work conditions that influence EBF practices among working mothers in informal settlements, and identify the challenges and opportunities the lactating mothers have related to EBF practice. The study is hinged on the theories of symbolic interactionism and of reasoned action. It was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Respondents were identified through consecutive sampling method, while key informants were purposively selected. Data from the mother-infant pair was obtained through a structured questionnaire, while data from key informants was obtained through a key informant guide. Quantitative data was analysed through SPSS software, where the association between variables was analysed through Pearson chi-square and Fisher‟s exact test. Qualitative data were analysed by identifying similar responses and merging them to relatable themes. The study findings show that socio demographic of mothers and infants had a significant relationship with EBF. Majority of the mothers were knowledgeable about EBF and its benefits. A significant majority of the respondents reported that work conditions affected their efforts to breastfeed exclusively. With respect to challenges and opportunities, mothers reported a dilemma in choosing work or total care for their children. On the other hand, some mothers had opportunities such as carrying their babies to the work place hence having enough time to breastfeed. The study recommended more public training and awareness about exclusive breastfeeding in the visual, print, and social media; regular motivation of community health volunteers through training and remunerations to reach more mothers in the community, and recruitment of additional nutrition officers in the facility.