CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background
of the Study
Child cognitive development is influenced by genetic and environmental
factors. The child has a genetically determined potential for cognitive
development. However environmental factors, such as adequate nutrition and the
parents’ ability to create a good and stimulating home environment may also
have a positive influence on the child’s cognitive development (Moronkola
2006)
Several studies (Ojo 2006, Niyi 2008, Elizabeth 2010 and Priscilla 2012)
have shown a positive correlation between breast feeding and cognitive
development in children. Mothers who breast feed tend to be older, have a
better education, and a higher socio economic status than mothers who breast
feed their children for a limited time or not at all.
A recent meta-analysis concluded that breast feeding is associated with
significantly higher scores for cognitive development than was formula feeding,
after adjustment for confounding factors the traditional pattern of child care
at the same time the harsh economic situation has limit many parents ability to
provide for their children, this problem of poverty also contribute to
mal-nourishment and since parents seldom careless for nutritional nourishment
of the family as often times they eat what is available this problem couple
with the problem of assess to balance diet, low practice of family planning,
level of education of parents, parents occupation, assess to information and
other problems still confronts the nutritional knowledge of primary school
students (Atare, 2001).
Ade, 2006 study shows that the rate of breast feeding in the first months
of life is as low as 17%. This has been attributed to several socio-economic
and cultural factors. However, these factors are still not adequately defined.
To promote and support breastfeeding, there is need to identify the factors
that influence mothers’ decisions on breast feeding. The findings of this study
will help in designing appropriate interventions to overcome the barriers to
breastfeed for the first 6 months, breast feeding benefits for new borns and
infants are well documented.
Breastfeeding provides infants with superior nutritional content that is
capable of improving infant immunity and possible reduction in future health
care spending. At the Innocenti declaration in 1990, the WHO/UNICEF called for
policies that would cultivate a breastfeeding culture that encourages women to
breastfeed their children exclusively for the first 6 months of life and then
up to 2 years of age and beyond (however, a recent estimate by the WHO showed
that worldwide only 35% of children between birth and their 5th
month are breastfed exclusively based on the WHO Global data on infant and
young child feeding in Nigeria, 22.3% of children exclusively breastfed for
less than 4 months while 17.2% were exclusively breastfed for less than 6
months, in the year 2003. According to the Nigerian Demographic and health
survey (NDHS), in 2008. 17% of children were exclusively breastfed for less
than six months. The median exclusive breastfeeding period in southwest Nigeria
by months in the year 2003 was 7 months. In the year 2008, it was 6 months or
within the same period, early initiation of breastfeeding among women in the
region was 1.7% in 2003, but increased to 35.5% in the year 2008.
These entire figures are far below the 90% level recommended by WHO. Child
mortality remains high in 242.7 per 1,000 among selected sub – Saharan Africa
countries. Successful breastfeeding is crucial to the curbing of infant
malnutrition and (reducing child mentality) and five (improving maternal
health). Based on available evidence, achievements of both goals are still far
from the desired progress. Hill, (2008)
Breastfeeding
practices, including initiation and duration, are influenced by multiple
interwoven factors which include health, psychosocial, cultural, political, and
economic factors. Among these factors, decisions regarding initiation and
duration of breastfeeding in low – income countries are influenced by
education, employment, place of delivery, family pressure, and cultural values
Ojo (2008). In Nigeria while breastfeeding initiation is on the increase, the
duration, and practice of breastfeeding among women who had their delivery in a
health facility, and outside such facility, has remained low. UNICEF (2011) the
early introduction of complementary feeding, based on erroneous assumptions
affects breastfeeding initiation and sustainability. Among the Yoruba people, a
common belief around infant feeding is that exclusive breastfeeding is
beneficial to both infants and mothers, but complementary feeding is essential
for babies to adapt to other meals with ease. Besides normative expectations,
personal experience and networks of support have influence on the firms and
quickly of breastfeeding practices. Largely, these factor exact pressure on
breastfeeding mother there by making their experience pleasurable or painful
within time and space. Despite the available body of knowledge on breastfeeding
practices in Nigeria, studies interrogated the agency of breastfeeding mothers
as lived within their socio – cultural context are limited. (Niyi, 2010)
Earlier, relent
scientific studies by WHO (2012) have found that education and support for
mothers significantly extends the number of months that mothers breastfeed, and
is especially helpful in promoting breastfeeding. Other studies (Ojo 2008, Ade
2010, Niyi 2012) have shown that coarsely and support in health facilities have
led to increases in the number of mothers who initiate breastfeeding within the
first hour of birth. Breastfeeding can reduce the number of deaths caused by
acute respiratory infection and diarrhea two major child killers as well as
from other infectious disease. It also contributes to the health of mothers,
and creates a bond between the mother and child. Appropriate infant feeding can
save lives, ensure optimal growth and development, and contribute to the
achievement of the millennium Development Goals. UNICEF (2013).
Malnutrition in
the early years of life , while the brain is in its period of rapid growth can
have a serious effect on intellectual development, either directly by damaging
the central nervous system or indirectly through its harmful effects on
responsiveness to stimuli and interference with learning. The nutrition’s links
between the mother and the child continues even after birth. The new born baby
depends for some period solely in breast milk fruits substance. Unfortunately,
most of the modern mothers do not want to breastfeed their children because
they fear that they will lose their shape and charm. But breastfeed is not only
the birth right of the baby, but proper empty of breast reduces the chances of
mastitis and even of breast cancer. Studies have shown that mothers who have
never feed their children have higher rate of malignancy. Nutritionists are of
opinion that there is no food equivalent to breast milk for a newborn baby.
Nature has designed it to be a complete food for the first few months of a
baby’s life. Breast milk immunizes the baby against infection also. To secrete
enough milk for the baby mother should have nutrition’s foods. Nutritional
needs of a lactating mother are higher than that of a pregnant mother. The
quality and quantity to breast milk depend on maternal diet. In an inadequate
diet the quality of mother’s milk is maintained by drawing the nutrients from
her body reserves and from tissues and bones. That is why the milk secreted by
poor women is equal in its nutritive content to that of lactating mothers from
developed countries of the Wald, (Moronkola, (2008).
Nutrition during
infancy lays the foundation for health. Growth is rapid, and changes in body
composition take place at this age. Chemical maturation of the body is
accomplished and internal activities occur at a high speed. Based metabolic
rate is also high. Compared to an adult in terms of body weight, an infant
needs all nutrients in more quantities. A healthy newborn baby doubles its
birth weight by the fifth month and triple by one year (Priscilla, 2012).
The growth rate
declines after the child is one year old, but the foundation of good health is
laid during the pre –school age. In India about 20 percent of the total deaths
occur among toddlers in the age group of 1 to 4 years. A child who has failed
to grow during this crucial period may not make up the loss in growth even with
an excellent diet in later life. Deficiency of vitamin A which leads even to
blindness and anaemia are common disorders found in children in the age group
of 1 to 5 years, (Niyi, 2008). About 1 to 2 percent of pre – school children
suffer from severe deficiency diseases like kwashiorkor and marasmus, studies
in India have shown that the performance of children, who had earlier suffered
from malnutrition, was clearly inferior to that of children who had not gone
through malnutrition. Diets in general consists of cereals, roots, tubers and
vegetables, yellow vegetables, milk and milk products and other protein sources
and fruits are consumed much below their requirement. Deficiency of protein
calonies, vitamin A and iron are very common among this group due to the
inadequate habits. Non – availability of protective foods, low purchasing
capacity, illiteracy and ignorance about the importance of nutrition during
this period, traditional
Habits, food
fads and facilities, insanitary living condition s and prevalence of infectious
diseases are the main causes of malnutrition physical and mental retardation
set in and high military takes place among infants. It has also been shown by
studies that the measurement of head circumference usually indicates that the
brain volume is less among malnourished children. Malnutrition reduces memory
and hearing ability and impairs intellectual functioning, (Bello, 2003).
Self esteem is a
term used in sociology and psychology to reflect a persons overall emotional
evaluation of his or her own worth. It is a judgment of oneself as well as
attitude to the self. Ben (2008) found out that lactating mother that are
career flyer may not breastfeed their baby due to self consciousness and
esteem. The nature of the mothers job, or occupation like those in banking,
technology/science also hinder them from breastfeeding their babies. Moji
(2009) study of effect of career and breastfeeding discovered that the mother
socio economic variables like religion, occupation, age, status hinder woman
who want are liberal minded to breastfeed as against those who cannot
breastfeed because of their health status.
Knowledge of the
importance of breastfeeding is significant to teachers; since the school is the
Childs second home and teachers occupy an important position to teach mothers,
caregivers and the general public on the relative importance of breastfeeding
to children. Teachers (male/female) are also parents and the knowledge they
have on the contribution of breastfeeding to children cognitive development
will be of benefit to them personally.
Babies have a sucking reflex that enables
them to suck and swallow milk. Many specialists recommend that mothers should
exclusively breastfeed for six months or more without the addition of infant formula
or solid food , (Vennemnn ,2001); Jorch (2004). World Health Organization
(2009) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the baby’s first 6 months of
life, and continued breastfeeding complemented with appropriate foods up to two
years old and beyond.
1.2 STATEMENT
OF THE PROBLEM
Little
or no work had been done on mother’s perception on the importance of
breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for
the healthy growth and development of infant; it is also an integral implication
for the health of mothers. This project investigated the mothers’ perception on
the importance of breastfeeding in Ijebu – ode Local Government Area of Ogun
State. This study further investigated the effect of income; self esteem of
mother’s perception on breastfeeding.
1.3 PURPOSE
OF THE STUDY
The
aim of this study was to investigate mother’s perception, income and self
esteem on the importance of breastfeeding.
1.4 RESEARCH
HYPOTHESES
Ho1:
There will be no significant difference between mothers’ perception of
breastfeeding and cognitive development in private child care centres and
public child care.
Ho2:
There will be no significant difference between mothers self esteem from
private child care centres and public child care centres on breastfeeding of
the child.
Ho3:
There will be no significance difference between mother’s income from private child
care centres and public child care centres on breastfeeding of the child.
1.5 SCOPE
OF THE STUDY
The study covered the topic mothers’ perception
on development, income and self esteem in the importance of breastfeeding in
selected school in Ijebu Ode Local Government Area of Ogun State. Therefore the
result is limited in application.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
The
study would be considered significant to mothers in that, it would educate the
mothers on the importance of breastfeeding. Caregivers are at a vantage
position to educate mothers on knowledge of mothers’ breastfeed.
School
authority would find the study significant in the area of designing appropriate
intervention to overcome the barriers of breastfeeding. School would be able to
use the knowledge of the study to educate mothers and the community on the
proper perception and knowledge essentially for adequate breastfeeding.
The
society and educators would benefit from the study by learning about the
advantages of knowing the importance of breastfeeding and thus curb infant
malnutrition and achieve the Millennium
Development Goals (MDG ) Four
(reducing child Mortality) and Five (improving maternal health). The study will
also, shed light on the advantage of breastfeeding over bottle feeding
especially for poor mothers and thus help increase the rate of breastfeeding in
Nigeria, especially in rural areas.
1.7 DEFINITION
OF TERMS
BREAST MILK SUBSTITUTE:
Any food being treated or otherwise presented as partial a total replacement
for breast milk.
EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE, DEVELOPMENT
AND EDUCATION: is a pre – primary care and education
given to aid physical, social, psychological and mutual growth and development
of the child. This form of education is the one captured variedly as Day –
care, playgroup, crèche, kindergarten and nursery.
BREAST MILK: The
white liquid produced from the breast of an adult female as food for her baby
(ies)
BREAST FEEDING: When
a woman breast feed her baby with milk from her breast
MOTHER:
A female parent of a child.
CAREGIVER:
Somebody who specializes in taking care of children, sick or old people.
SELF ESTEEM:
a feeling of being happy with your own
character and abilities.
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