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A STUDY ON BREASTFEEDING PRACTICES OF WOMEN IN THEIR REPRODUCTIVE AGE IN KUBANG PASU, KEDAH

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INTRODUCTION• UNICEF estimated that, if every baby were exclusively breastfed from birth up

to 6 months, 1.5 million lives would be saved each year 1• WHO Global Data Bank on Breastfeeding: In Feb 2005, 35% of infants were

exclusively breastfed between 0-4 months of age 2• In South East Asia: Exclusive Breastfeeding is much less prevalent

(e.g. in 1996, only 4% of Thai babies) 2• What about mothers in Malaysia?

AIMS OF OUR STUDY:MAIN OBJECTIVE

To study the prevalence of breastfeeding practices among women of reproductive age (15-49 years old) in three selected rural villages in KubangPasu, Kedah

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES1. To determine the association between socio-economic status & breastfeeding

practice2. To assess the knowledge of women regarding breastfeeding3. To investigate the relationship between the attitude of mothers towards

breastfeeding 1 http://www.unicef.org2 http://www.who.int/child-adolescent-health/NUTRITION

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Cross sectional descriptive study

Design of questionnaire

Coding, computing and analysis of data

Arrival of Group in Kubang Pasu

Pre-test at HTAR, Klang

Inclusion criteria Exclusion criteria

•Women of reproductive age

•At least 1 living child2 yrs old

•Regardless of marital status

•Serious illnesses

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Face-to-face interview (115 respondents)

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ERRORS & LIMITATIONS

• Small sample size (115 respondents out of a targeted 200 households) due to strict inclusion criteria and time constraint

• Problems with recall, as in other retrospective studies

• Study was unable to assess the breastfeeding practices among other races

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A. Demographic Details

RESULTS

n=115

0

4.35

13.91

11.30

14.7813.04

42.61

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Perc

enta

ge o

f Mot

hers

(%)

15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49Age Group (years)

Age Distribution of Respondents

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Education Level of Respondents

14%

37%24%

20%5% None/Informal

Primary

Lower secondary

Upper secondary

Tertiary

n=115

7

Occupational Status of Respondents

Self-employed

19%

Employed21%Unemployed

60%

n=115

8

n=115

>

54.78

33.91

9.57

1.74

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Perc

enta

ge o

f R

espo

nden

ts (%

)

0-199.99 200-399.99 400-599.99 600-799.99Income per capita (RM)

Financial Status of Respondents

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B. Breastfeeding Practices

Prevalence of Breastfeeding

Not Breastfed

1%

Breastfed99%

n=115

10

n=115

Exclusive Non-exclusive

Both

28.95

65.79

5.26

010203040506070

Perc

enta

ge o

f R

espo

nden

ts

(%)

Exclusive Non-exclusive

Both

Pattern of Breastfeeding

Pattern of Breastfeeding

11

24.3521.74

46.09

4.350.87 1.74 0 0.87

05

101520253035404550

Perc

enta

ge o

f Res

pond

(%)

>0-10 >10-20 >20-30 >30-40 >40-50 >50-60 >60-70 >70-80

Mean Total Duration of Breastfeeding (months)

Mean Total Duration of Breastfeeding Among Respondents

n=115

Percentage

Of

Respondents (%)

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C. Attitudes towards Breastfeeding

Opinion on Breastfeeding Among Respondents

Unsure2%

Positive98% n=115

13

49.67

14.5713.25

9.27

3.317.28

2.64

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Perc

enta

ge o

f Res

pond

en

Reasons

Reasons for Positive Opinion on Breastfeeding

Child's healthEconomicalBondConvenientMother's healthNutritiousOthers

n=115

14

Support on Breastfeeding

No10%

Yes90%

36.28 35.35

23.26

5.11

05

10152025303540

Perc

entr

age

oR

espo

nden

ts

spouse Familymembers

Healthpersonnel

Others

Source of Support

Source of Support on Breastfeeding

n=115

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D. Knowledge on Breastfeeding

0 0 0.87 0

3.485.22

7.83

20.00

23.48

14.7813.04

8.70

2.61

0

5

10

15

20

25

Perc

enta

ge o

f Res

pond

en

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12Total Correct Answers

Knowledge on Breastfeeding Among Respondents

n=115

16

1.74

13 .9 1

4 0

3 3 .0 4

11.3 0

0

5

10

1520

25

30

35

40

0 1 2 3 4

T o tal C o rrect A nswers

Knowledge of Mothers on the Technique of Breastfeeding

13.91

40.00

32.17

13.91

05

10152025303540

0 1 2 3

T o tal C o rrect A nswers

Knowledge of Mothers on Contraindication of Breastfeeding

n=115

0.875.22

13.91

32.17

47.83

05

101520253035404550

1 2 3 4 5Total Correct Answers

Knowledge of Mothers on The Benefits of Breastfeeding

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Mothers Who Received Information on Breastfeeding

No4%

Yes96%

n=115

0%20%40%60%80%

100%

Perc

enta

ge o

f R

espo

nden

ts

(%)

Mosthelpful

Helpful Leasthelpful

Helpfulness

Helpfulness of Source of Information on Breastfeeding

Mass media

Family members

Health personnel

n=115

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E. Relationships between…

5 1128

71

0

20

40

60

80

No.

of

Res

pond

ents

None/informal Formal

Educational Level

Relationship between Educational Level and Duration of Breastfeeding

0-12 months>12 months

Mean Total Duration of Breastfeeding (months)

p=0.774

19

p=0.514

39.16 41.97

30.23

19.83

05

1015202530354045

Mea

n To

tal D

urat

ion

of

Bre

astfe

edin

g (m

onth

s)

0-199 200-399 400-599 600-799Income per capita (RM)

Relationship between Financial status and Duration of Breastfeeding

20

p=1.000

33

0

80

2

0

20

40

60

80

No.

of

Res

pond

ents

0-12 months >12 monthsDuration of Breastfeeding

Relationship between Attitude and Duration of Breastfeeding

positiveunsure

21

p=0.344

528

11

71

020406080

No.

of

Res

pond

ents

0-6 7-12.Total Correct Answers

Relationship between Knowledge on Breastfeeding and

Duration of Breastfeeding

0-12 months>12 months

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DISCUSSION•Nearly all mothers in the rural villages in Kubang Pasu breastfedtheir children i.e. 99%.

•The incidence of non-exclusive breastfeeding was found to be predominant to exclusive breastfeeding.

•Most breastfeeding mothers received formal education, wereunemployed and generate a low monthly income. Unfortunately, these factors were not found to be significantly associated with theduration of breastfeeding.

•Knowledge and attitude play an important role in one’s decisionand duration of breastfeeding.

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CONCLUSION

• The prevalence of breastfeeding in Kubang Pasu was very high i.e. 99%

• It is associated with educational level, occupational status, income, attitude and knowledge

• Spouse and family members have an important role to play

• While improved maternity services help to increase the initiation of exclusive breastfeeding, support throughout the health system is required to help mothers sustain exclusive breastfeeding.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Our sincere thanks and gratitude to:

•Mr Hazreen Abdul Majid, our supervisor

•A/P Dr. Hematram Yadav and the staff of Social & Preventive Medicine Department, University of Malaya

•Dr. Azilah bt. Abdullah, Medical & Health Officer of Kubang PasuDistrict Health Office

•Head village and villagers of Kampung Keda Wang Tepus, Kampung Changkat Setol and Kampung Felda Bukit Tangga