Abstract:
Adequate breastfeeding only with no food or medicinal supplement is all that is
needed for the normal infant during the first six months of life. Decline in in
breastfeeding practices is not only detrimental to the health of the infant but also to
mother-child relationship with serious damages to the family and social integration.
This study examined the influence of formal employment on mothers‟ breastfeeding
from 0-6 months infants in Ashanti-Mampong. A sample of 120 working mothers‟
breastfeeding from 0-6 months were selected using purposive, convenience and
stratified sampling techniques. Data were collected using questionnaire and focus
group discussion. Direct quotations and thematic analysis were employed as main
tools to analyse the qualitative data whereas descriptive statistical analysis such as
frequencies, percentage distributions, tables and pie charts were used to analyse
quantitative data and present findings. Results showed that work cultures were not
favourable enough but it did not influence breastfeeding rates and duration among
working mothers. The study also revealed that returning to work shortly after child
birth and maternity leave does not deter mothers from exclusive breastfeeding. The
study recommended that mothers should be encourage to continue with the type, rate
and duration of breastfeeding due to it benefits. Also, maternity leave should be long
enough to allow 6 months breastfeeding so as not to deter breastfeeding mothers from
exclusive breastfeeding. Finally, employers should develop favourable policies that
allow breastfeeding at the workplace.
Description:
A thesis in the Department of Food And Nutrition Education, Faculty of Home Economics Education, Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Philosophy (Food and Nutrition) in the University of Education, Winneba
AUGUST, 2020
