PREDICTIVE INFLUENCE OF SELF-EFFICACY ON INFANT FEEDING ATTITUDES IN POSTPARTUM MOTHERS

Abstract

Appropriate infant feeding practices have been identified as key in ameliorating the illness and death rate of infants and children under 5 in low resource countries. Despite national and international efforts at encouraging appropriate infant feeding practices, many young children still suffer the direct and indirect effects of poor nutrition. The present study is a cross-sectional descriptive study involving mothers attending a primary health care centre in Ede, Osun State. One hundred and sixty-three (163) women were surveyed with regards to their attitude to infant feeding and breastfeeding self-efficacy using a set of structured questionnaires. Self-efficacy significantly predicted infant feeding attitude [F (1, 163) = 4.31, p =.040] with mothers in 31-50 age bracket demonstrating a more positive attitude to breastfeeding than women of other ages. Although breastfeeding practice was universal in the study area, infant feeding attitude was neutral suggesting ambivalence in adhering to recommended infant feeding guidelines. There is a need to tailor infant feeding information towards women in younger age groups towards creating awareness about the positive lifelong effect of appropriate infant feeding practice on their own children’s health status.