Health Belief Factors Associated With Appropriate Breastfeeding Practices Among Multiparous And Primiparous Lactating Mothers In Rural Locations In Abia State.:- Eze, Vivian U

ABSTRACT The study assessed the health belief factors associated with the breastfeeding practices among primiparous and multiparous lactating mothers in rural locations in Abia state. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional study. Validated questionnaires were used to obtain information on the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, appropriate breastfeeding practices, health belief factors that influences their practices. Data collected from 163 respondents was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25.0, presented in frequencies, percentages and Pearson’s correlation. Some 56. 4% of the respondents were aged between 26-35 years old, multiparous mothers were 57.7%. Most of the respondents (71.8%) live with husband and children only. The educational level of 54.6% ofthe respondents was tertiary level. Also, 42.9% ofthe respondents were business women/traders and the monthly income of 31.9% of the respondents were unknown, while 30.7% earned 30,000 -50,000. From the study, it further showed that there was positive correlation between only one wife and appropriate breastfeeding practices, r=0.159, p<0.042 which was significant at (0.01), nuclear family and appropriate breastfeeding practices also has a positive correlation between them, r=0.246, p<0.002 which was significant at (0.05), and the study also identifies that high educational level r=0.160, p<0.041 which was significant at (0.01) had significant relationship with appropriate breastfeeding practice. The study shows that there is a significant correlation between age of the respondents and perceived severity, perceived barrier, self-efficacy, whereby r=0.034, p<0.669), r=0.110, p<0.163, r=0.101, p<0.199 respectively. There is a negative correlation between those employed and all the factors of health belief model. Furthermore, there was a relationship between perceived susceptibility r-0.161, p<0.041 which was significant at (0.01), perceived severity 1—0.233, p<0.003) which was significant at (0.05) and appropriate breastfeeding practices. This study showed that there was a negative conelation between the perceived benefit and appropriate breastfeeding practices, r 0.037, p<0.635. This study identifies the importance of appropriate bi eastfeeding practices and the health belief factors that associated with it