Thesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / Breast milk contains antibodies that help babies to fight off viruses and bacteria, thus, breastfeeding lowers the baby's risk of having asthma or allergies. Babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, without any formula, have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhoea. Dwarsloop Community Health Centre (CHC) has low rates of exclusive breastfeeding (EFB), despite many efforts to increase this practice. The purpose of the study is to evaluate, understand, describe, explore and explain the factors contributing to poor exclusive breastfeeding among mothers at Dwarsloop Community Health Centre (CHC). Methods: The proposed study was conducted using a quantitative research method. Data was collected using self-administered, structured questionnaires, with close-ended questions. The sample in this study was drawn from mothers of infants 0-6 months attending the child health clinic at Dwarsloop CHC during the period of data collection. A sample of 92 mothers was selected for the study. Result: The highest proportion of the mothers had poor exclusive breastfeeding practice (73%). compared to good exclusive breastfeeding practice (27%). Factors associated with poor exclusive breastfeeding practice include experience of breast problems ( 77%), mothers who were embarrassed to breast feed in public (52%), mothers who were supported by their partners ( 39%), mothers who believe that their child was satisfied with breast milk only ( 49%) and mothers who were HIV-positive ( 54%). Conclusions: Although EBF is the correct method for infant feeding, mothers still find it difficult to maintain the practice for up to 6 months. Interventions emphasizing practical education should be targeted at addressing factors associated with poor EBF.

Despite the benefits of breastfeeding, breastfeeding initiation and duration rates among adolescent mothers continue to fall short of the national recommended Healthy People 2010 goals. An interdisciplinary review of the literature was performed using CINAHL, MED LINE, and Academic Search Premier. The purpose of this thesis is to highlight the findings of an integrated literature review to describe how support and educational interventions implemented by nurses during the prenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal period may increase the incidence of breastfeeding among this vulnerable population. There is a dearth of research related to adolescent breastfeeding. The most common design was noted to be descriptive (N=9) with qualitative and some quantitative components. Studies evaluated several variables: attitudes of infant feeding practices among adolescent mothers; the various health benefits of breastfeeding; breastfeeding statistics; and the impact that professional support, interventions, and education had on an adolescent's perception of breastfeeding. Findings from the review suggested that • breastfeeding support and education are essential in promoting, encouraging, and targeting teenage childbearing women. Early identification of barriers to breastfeeding and cost-effective strategies to promote breastfeeding among adolescent women may even decrease common breastfeeding problems that lead to early weaning among this population. Until the American culture fully embraces the value of breastfeeding, its value will be diminished with no improvement in media representation and workplace support.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding is important to children’s health and development in early years. It may also have implications for health in later life as it has been associated with some chronic non-communicable diseases including hypertension, obesity, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and cardiovascular diseases. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in the United States is estimated to be approximately 44% for a 3-month period and 24% for a 6-month period (CDC, 2008). There are many factors that influence whether or not a mother will be successful in exclusive breastfeeding, and one factor that has been identified with the success of this is delivery method. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not infant delivery method is associated with exclusive breastfeeding. Additionally, other environmental and personal factors examined included: intent, infant-to-breast within two hours of birth, as well as maternal race, parity, and age. METHODOLOGY: Data were obtained from the Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Lactation Department through an agreement. The information was extracted from the patients’ medical charts between March, 2011 and March, 2013 by nurses in the lactation department. Descriptive statistical tests and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between delivery method and exclusive breastfeeding with analytic consideration given to significant environmental and personal maternal characteristics. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant association between delivery method and exclusive breastfeeding (OR= .510, 95% CI= .375-.695) after adjusting for intent, whether or not baby was put to the breast within two hours of birth, maternal race, parity, and maternal age. Mothers who delivered via cesarean section were .510 times as likely to be exclusively breastfeeding at the time of hospital discharge when compared to mothers who delivered vaginally. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that there is a significant association between delivery method and exclusive breastfeeding, in that vaginally delivered babies were more likely to be exclusively breastfeeding compared to babies delivered via cesarean section. This result is consistent with other research, and it further supports recommendations for healthcare professionals to promote breastfeeding for the first six months of life. As aligned with the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative and WHO goals, exclusive breastfeeding should be thoroughly encouraged in addition to promoting natural (vaginal) birth options whenever possible. Further research regarding post-partum factors for both types of delivery that can lead to higher rates of exclusive breastfeeding is warranted.

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Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / 2031-01-01

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / 2031-01-01

This work examines the individual and comprehensive effects of oxytocin, maternal depression, and breastfeeding on the mother-infant bond. Self-report measures are used to illustrate differences in behavior, temperament, and maternal feelings towards her infant and her experiences associated with motherhood. Based on previous literature highlighting the protective and beneficial effects of oxytocin during maternity, results from this longitudinal study examining mother-infant dyads from prenatal to three-months postpartum are aimed to combine psycho-social and biological components associated with child rearing to form a complete understanding of the mother-infant bonding system. While our research provides support for certain psycho social components by demonstrating an irrefutable impact of depressive symptoms and breastfeeding self-efficacy on later displays of postpartum attachment, there is still room for question in regards to the role that oxytocin may play. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2019. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Breastfeeding self-efficacy is considered one of the key components of a successful breastfeeding experience. The benefits of breastfeeding are well established in the literature and have been widely communicated to the public, resulting in an increasing trend of breastfeeding initiation. However, the United States still falls short of Healthy People 2020 breastfeeding goals. The purpose of this project was to examine the effects of a standardized hospital-based prenatal breastfeeding class on breastfeeding self-efficacy. Dennis's breastfeeding self-efficacy theory was the foundation for the breastfeeding self-efficacy tool used in this project. A quasi-experimental design used a convenience sample of 30 breastfeeding class participants as the experimental group and 30 postpartum women who had no formal breastfeeding education as the control group. The Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale Short Form (BSES-SF) was administered to the intervention group prior to the breastfeeding class, at the end of the class, prior to hospital discharge, and at 2 weeks postpartum. The control group received the survey prior to hospital discharge and at 2 weeks postpartum. Key findings indicated that participants in the breastfeeding class demonstrated a statistically significant increase in breastfeeding confidence after the class (t = 9.55(29), p = 0.00). There was no difference between the intervention and control groups at discharge (t = -.412(47), p = 0.686). Nurses and lactation professionals are in a position to evoke social change by examining the impact of breastfeeding self-efficacy and using the findings to shape breastfeeding education.