ABSTRACTThe World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recommend that all mothers should breastfeed their children exclusively for the first six (6) months and thereafter continue to breastfeed for as long as the mother and child desire. This study is conducted to assess adherence to 6 months …
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ABSTRACTThe World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recommend that all mothers should breastfeed their children exclusively for the first six (6) months and thereafter continue to breastfeed for as long as the mother and child desire. This study is conducted to assess adherence to 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding among women of reproductive age in Akumadan, Offinso-North District in the Ashanti Region. This is based on three specific objectives which include; level of adherence to 6 months exclusive breastfeeding among women of their Reproductive age, factors hindering women's adherence to 6 months exclusive breastfeeding, and the relationship between perceived benefits of EBF and adherence to 6 months EBF among women of reproductive age. A cross-sectional survey design is employed with the use of purposive and simple random sampling techniques to select 250 respondents for the study. The questionnaire was used as the main data collection instrument. The data is analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 software. The population for this study is defined as women in their reproductive age at Akumadan in the Offinso-North District. The study found that the level of adherence to the six months EBF among women of reproductive age in Akumadan, Offinso-North District was low (20%). The study found that women's adherence to the six months recommended EBF is hindered by both demographic, socio-economic, cultural, health, perception, and family factors. The study found that the perceived benefits of EBF that were significantly (p<0.05) associated women's adherence to exclusive EBF include; EBF promotes the health and well-being of the mother, EBF prevent ovarian and breast cancer, and EBF saves family income. The study recommends that the Government through the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Services should design an educational package that will enlighten the general public especially women of their reproductive age on exclusive breastfeeding.
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