Table of Contents
Introduction to the study
Breastfeeding is the process of nourishing an infant with human milk through either direct suckling or feeding with expressed breast milk. The human milk contains all the required nutrients that the infant may require for better growth and improvement of survival rates. Health message on breastfeeding to the post delivered mothers promote the health of both the mother and the infant. Infants should be breastfeed from the first day of life up to six months (WHO, 2018). Health messages should be administered to the mother regularly to enhance and promote breastfeeding when mothers are taught on infant attachment to the breast and positioning. The World Health Organisation and the United Nations Children Emergency Fund propose that breastfeeding education encourage mothers to continue breastfeeding. After delivery there is an opportunity to demonstrate educate and support the mother on breastfeeding technique.
Background of the study
Knowledge on breastfeeding reduces the difficulties among mothers during breastfeeding periods.RCN (2009) midwifes, health visitors and general practitioners are considered to be the first point of contact to women with breast changes. Midwifes should take every opportunity to educate women about the importance of being breast aware and encourage women to take active role in their own breast health.Szucs, Mirade and Rosen man (2009) conducted a focused groups with various health professionals, finding out that there were gaps in provider’s knowledge and communication skills and their support in breastfeeding.A significant lack of breastfeeding knowledge among health and providers means that women may receive inappropriate and often conflicting information resulting in premature weaning (Backstrom, Wahn and Ekstrom 2010).Despite all the educational programs that promote breastfeeding in the world, in practice, infants still receive complementary foods in the first six months alongside breastfeeding. According to American Nutritional and Immunization survey data in 2010, 79.6% of women initiated breastfeeding and 47% breastfeed up to six months but only 16% practiced exclusive breastfeeding up to six months.
In a study of the knowledge and negative attitude about breastfeeding 83% of the nurses felt breastfeeding promotion was good use of their time and follow up with new breastfeeding mother, only 46% felt confident with working with a mother with breastfeeding problems (Eren, Lowdermilk, Hammond and Tuly 2000) Disparities in breastfeeding rates exist with low income, blacks, less educated, young mothers and working mothers who are less likely to breastfeed.1.2 Statement of problemGlobally only 42% of new-born are put to the breast within the first hour of birth, and only two in five infants less than six months are exclusively breastfeed. The data shows that less than three quarters of children aged between 12-15 months are still breastfeeding (UNICEF.org.N.P. n.d Web. July 2019).
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The share of infants that are breastfeeding within one hour of birth range from 40% in West and Central Africa and South Asia to about 65% in Eastern and Southern Africa (UNICEF July 2018) In Kenya two in every five infants are not exclusively fed on breastmilk, the Global Health Watchdog says, hence raising concerns over their growth and survival (Nasibo Kabale August 2018)The WHO is pushing breastmilk as the original food for babies urging mothers to start to start within one hour after birth up to six months According to statistics at Consolata Hospital Kyeni health messages on breastfeeding are not given to mothers post-delivery hence the infants are not breastfeed well resulting to an increase in infants who have physiological jaundice and poor growth rate hence infants stay longer times in the special care baby unit posing a greater risk to hospital acquired infections which can be avoided by educating the mothers on breastfeeding in terms of attachment and well feeding of the infants. This happens to the first time mothers who do not have the skills and knowledge to breastfeed.Consistent health message from the health care providers especially student nurses will promote breastfeeding and increase the initiation and duration hence reducing preventable conditions like physiological jaundice and poor growth rate.
General objective of the study
To investigate the factors influencing administration of health message among students and staff in maternity department at CHK.
Specific objective of the study
To investigate how availability of time influences administration of health messages at CHK in maternity departmentTo determine the level of knowledge on breastfeeding health message among students at CHK.To determine how insufficiently developed communication skills affect breastfeeding health message in maternity wardTo determine how gender interferes with giving breastfeeding health message in post delivered mothers at CHK
Research questions
How does time influence administration of breastfeeding health message to the post delivered mothers at CHK in maternity?How does knowledge influence administration of health message to the post delivered mothers at CHK in maternity?How does insufficiently developed communication skills development interfere with giving health message in the maternity ward at CHK? How does gender influence giving of breastfeeding health messages to mothers in maternity ward at CHK?
Significance of the study
The aim of the study it is that it is designed to provide an insight into the students and staff in maternity on giving health messages regarding breastfeeding and it’s important. This will be a vital role since the knowledge they get will enable the mother to know the reason why infants should be exclusively be breastfeed by human milk for the first six months of their live before starting complementary feeding and also enable the infants to get the required nutrients for optimal growth and stay free from infections hence preventing the mothers from breastfeeding problems.This will also be an added advantage to the couple as lactation amenorrhoea method will be used as a method of family planning
Justification of the study
The research has never been done before, the researcher is interested in conducting research to know why breastfeeding health messages are not given to mothers in maternity at CHK after the delivery .This research is the first of its kind in the region and it is expected to create a path way for further researches of breastfeeding problems.The findings will be utilized by the mid-level health managers and health care providers at CHK to improve the care of post delivered women and their infants thus reducing problems related to breastfeeding and infant growth.1.8 Limitation of the studyThe study may be difficult because some students may be unwilling to respond to the questionnaire and some ignoring them, the study is only limited to CHK1.
Delimitation of the study
The study will be carried out in Consolata Hospital Kyeni maternity department. It covers the geographical area of CHK in Embu County, Embu-East Sub-County which is in Kyeni South location, located 1km off Embu-Meru highway and neighbouring parochial primary school. The study will take a period of six months. The sample is restricted to only students and staff in maternity placement.
Assumptions of the study
The researcher assumes that the respondents will show willingness and be honest while filling the questionnaire, also the sample size will represent the target population. The researcher also assumes that the authority will grant permission and give autonomy to independently collect data in the hospital.
