Assessment of attitudes towards breastfeeding among Somali women of reproductive age, Garissa County, Kenya

Abstract

Breast milk is the safest and most common natural food for an infant. Despite efforts by the county and national government as well as non-governmental organisations, breastfeeding uptake in Garissa County was low. This study therefore assessed attitudes towards breastfeeding and the relationship between women’s attitudes and breastfeeding practice. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional survey design. . The target population for the study included lactating mothers in Bulla Adaan, Garissa County. A sample size of 373 was calculated using the Yamane (1967) formula. Majority 271 (72.7%) of the respondents had poor breastfeeding practices. In addition, majority 266 (71.3%) of the respondents had negative attitudes towards breastfeeding. There was a significant relationship (χ²=25.020, df=8, p=0.002) between attitudes towards breastfeeding on breastfeeding practices. The study concluded that respondents’ attitudes affected their breastfeeding practices whereby respondents with negative attitudes were highly likely to have poor breastfeeding practices. It was therefore recommended that the government and other private institution in the health sector should carry out mass education particularly the women on the importance of breastfeeding to the infants as this has more benefits to both the mother and the infant as well as the society.