Exclusive breastfeeding among beneficiaries of a nutrition enhancement programme and its associated factors in Ghana

PLOS ONE · 12 authors, 8 centres

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TL;DR

A cross-sectional study of 339 mother-child pairs in northern Ghana found that 74.6% of beneficiaries of the ENVAC nutrition programme practiced exclusive breastfeeding. Higher maternal education and household access to pipe-borne water were significantly associated with increased odds of exclusive breastfeeding.

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This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence and factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) among 339 mother-child pairs who were beneficiaries of the World Food Programme's Enhanced Nutrition and Value Chain (ENVAC) project in two districts of northern Ghana. The study used a WHO standard questionnaire and multivariable logistic regression for analysis. Adjusted analysis showed that EBF practice was significantly associated with increasing maternal education (moderately educated: aOR=4.1; high education: aOR=9.15) and access to pipe-borne water in households (aOR=2.87). The authors conclude that the social behaviour change communication strategy likely improved EBF practice, but note limitations including the lack of a control group, potential for social desirability bias, and that the model explained only 25.4% of the variability, indicating other important factors were not measured.

STUDY TYPE

cross-sectional

SPECIALTY

pediatrics

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ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10228788

Exclusive breastfeeding among beneficiaries of a nutrition enhancement programme and its associated factors in Ghana

PLOS ONE

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ABSTRACT

Abstract Introduction Despite the gains on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), recent nationwide surveys have consistently revealed a decline in EBF rates in Ghana. The World Food Programme implemented an intervention for Enhanced Nutrition and Value Chain (ENVAC) which was based on three pillars including pregnant women, lactating women, adolescent and children under two years old being beneficiaries of the third pillar since the first 1000 days are critical for averting malnutrition. The social behavior change communication (SBCC) interventions implemented as part of this project have a potential to increase EBF among beneficiaries but this has not been measured. Therefore, this study assessed the prevalence of EBF practice among mothers with children under two years old who were beneficiaries of the ENVAC project and its associated factors in northern Ghana. Methods This was a cross-sectional study involving 339 mother-child pairs in two districts of the northern region of Ghana. Participants were mother-child pairs who benefitted from the ENVAC project, which used SBCC strategies to promote good feeding and care practices as well as address other causes of malnutrition during antenatal care and child welfare clinic services among pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children under two years. We used WHO standard questionnaire to assess breastfeeding practices. Factors associated with EBF were modelled using multivariable logistic regression. Results Exclusive breastfeeding was 74.6% (95%CI = 69.5% -79.2%) in the ENVAC project areas, a 31.7% points higher than recent national levels. Adjusted analyses showed that EBF practice was associated with increasing maternal education: moderately educated women [aOR = 4.1 (95% CI = 2.17–7.66), P<0.001], and high [aOR = 9.15, (95% CI = 3.3–25.36), P<0.001], and access to pipe-borne water in households [aOR = 2.87, (95% CI = 1.11–7.43), P = 0.029]. Conclusion A social behaviour change communication strategy implemented by ENVAC to lactating mothers likely improved exclusive breastfeeding practice in two districts of northern Ghana. EBF practices were higher among beneficiaries with high education and households with access to pipe-borne water. A combination of SBCC strategies and maternal and household factors are likely the best way to increase EBF rates in impoverished communities and warrants further investigation through future research.

CITATION EXPORT

Martin Nyaaba Adokiya, Mohammed Bukari, Joyce A Ndago et al.. Exclusive breastfeeding among beneficiaries of a nutrition enhancement programme and its associated factors in Ghana. PLOS ONE. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286546

AUTHORS

12 · 8 CENTRES

Martin Nyaaba Adokiya, Mohammed Bukari, Joyce A Ndago, Robert B Kuganab-Lem, Humphrey Garti, Matthew Y Konlan, Amata Atinlie Amoasah, Zakari Ali, Neetu Choudhary, Neetu Choudhary, Neetu Choudhary, Neetu Choudhary

1Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
2Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
3Department of Social and Behavioral Change, School of Public Health, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
4Institute of Health, Population and Environment Research, Tamale Technical University, Tamale, Ghana
5Department of Public Health, Northern Regional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana
6World Food Programme, Tamale, Ghana
7Nutrition and Planetary Health Theme, MRC Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Serrekunda, The Gambia
8Arizona State University, UNITED STATES