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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
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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
15
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
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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
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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
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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