ABSTRACT

This study examines the influence of family support and work environment on the

attitude and breastfeeding practice of mothers working in establishments located in

Calabar, Cross River State. The study was a cross-sectional study. A multi-stage

sampling technique was used to select a total of 316 respondents which are all women.

Data on socio-demographic/economic characteristics, mother's breastfeeding practices,

attitude of the respondents towards breastfeeding, family support to breastfeeding

mothers, breastfeeding and work environment of the respondents were collected using

structured and validated questionnaire. The IBM SPSS version 20 computer programme

was used to analyze the data. Significant relationship was judged at p 0.05. Data

obtained were described using frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation.

Correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between mothers' attitude,

family, coworkers and employer/manager/supervisor support towards exclusive

breastfeeding. Result from the study showed that more than half (52.8%) of the mothers

are between the age bracket of 26-35 years and 81.6% of them are married. However,

only few (3 8%) working mothers practiced exclusive for 6 months. All (100%) the

respondents had an indifferent attitude towards breast feeding. Furthermore, 87.3% of the

working mothers received a moderate support from their family while only few (11.1%)

received a high support from their family members. Meanwhile, more than half (54.7%)

of the working mothers go to work with their baby, all (100%) breastfeed them at work

while majority (83.8%) breastfeed directly from the breast. Consequently, majority

(78.6%) of them received a moderate support from their co-workers while 78.6%

received a low support from their employer/manager/supervisor. The results showed that

the working mothers' average duration of exclusive breastfeeding (less than 6months)

was less than that recommended by the WHO (2013). there is a significant relationship

between family support to mothers, employer/manager/supervisor's support and their

attitude towards exclusive. No significant relationship was found between family,

coworkers and employer/manager/supervisor support and practice of exclusive

breastfeeding. Mothers need to continue exclusive breastfeeding practice up to 6 months.

Thus enhancing family and work place support is needed to support the duration of

exclusive breastfeeding by providing nursing care to increase the quality of exclusive

breastfeeding practice of working mothers who take care of children aged 9-12 months.