Supaporn Sittikon. Factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding among women in Nakhon Pathom province Thailand. Master's Degree(Human Reproduction and Population Planning). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2008.
Factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding among women in Nakhon Pathom province Thailand
Abstract:
Breastfeeding has enormous benefits for mothers and infants. In Thailand the national
target of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months after delivery has been set at 30%. At present
the rate of exclusive breastfeeding is still lower than expected. The objectives of this research
were to study factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding among women in Nakhon Pathom
Province. Demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude, source of support and
information on exclusive breastfeeding were included. Study subjects were 230 women who
had delivered their babies in the previous 6 months to 1 year and resided at Amphur
Dontoom, Nakhon Pathom Province. Data was collected by interviewing using structured
questionnaires. Descriptive statistics included rate, mean and standard deviation. Chi-square
test was applied to test statistical significance at the level of p < 0.05 by using the SPSS V 16
statistical program.
The results showed that the average age of the women was 26.59 + 6.77 years. Most
of them (55.2 %) were primipara and 67.8 % completed high school or less. Most of the
women had fair level of knowledge and attitude towards breastfeeding (84.4% and 67.4%,
respectively). Most of them (68.4%) had a high level of source of support and information.
The rate of exclusive breastfeeding was 90 %, 76.5 % and 70% at 1, 3 and 6 months,
respectively. Two factors which were significantly associated with exclusive breastfeeding at
3 months were education and occupation (p < 0.05). Attitude towards breastfeeding was
associated with education and occupation (p < 0.05).
In conclusion, exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months among women at Amphur
Dontoom, Nakhon Pathom Province was high. Most of the women had rather fair knowledge,
fair attitude and high level of support for breastfeeding. But source of information from mass
media e.g. television, radio and magazine was still low. There should be more promotion in
mass media about exclusive breastfeeding at the community level in order to assure long-term
success in a sustainable high rate of exclusive breastfeeding.