Assessment of Knowledge of Kenya’s Breast Milk Substitutes Act (2012) among Nurses in Mbagathi and Pumwani Hospital, Kenya

Abstract

Breast Milk Substitutes Regulation and Control Act, 2012 aimed to provide for appropriate marketing and distribution of breast milk substitutes, safe and adequate nutrition for infants, through the promotion of breast-feeding and proper use of breast milk substitutes. Nurses are responsible for providing information about benefits of breastfeeding to help the new mother to make a fully informed decision about infant nutrition. The aim of this study was to determine nurses' knowledge on the recommendations of the BMS Act in Mbagathi and Pumwani Hospitals, Nairobi County. This study used a cross-sectional descriptive research/study design. The target population were nurses who all work in maternity wards because of their responsibility for counseling mothers on infant nutrition. The study used a sample of 200 nurses. Questionnaires were use to collect data. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and chi-square Analysis with the help of SPSS. Majority (68%) of the respondents had high knowledge. There was a significant relationship (p=0.014) between the level of education and nurses knowledge on BMS. Nurse’s knowledge on the recommendations of the BMS Act was generally high. Nurses with bachelors and postgraduate degree were more likely to have high knowledge than those with certificates and diplomas in nursing. Diploma curriculum therefore needs to be bolstered to include current recommendations of breastfeeding in line with the BMS Act