RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BREASTFEEDING BEHAVIOR AND CHILD SPACING AMONG WOMEN IN ADO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EKITI STATE
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between breast feeding behavior and child spacing among women in Ekiti state. Specifically, the study examined the relevance of breastfeeding among women, the importance of child spacing among women and examined the relationship between breastfeeding behavior and child spacing among women. This study adopted a descriptive research design of the survey type. The population for this study comprised all the breastfeeding mothers in Ekiti State. A total of 100 breastfeeding mothers in Ekiti State were selected as sample for the study through multistage sampling procedure. The instrument used for data collection in this study was a self-structured questionnaire. Both face and content validity of the instrument were ascertained by researcher’s supervisor and two (2) experts in the Department of Tests and Measurement in Faculty of Education, Ekiti State University, Ado -Ekiti. Cronbach reliability method of estimating reliability was used in this study and a reliability coefficient of 0.68 was obtained. The finding of this study revealed that Very few of the breastfeeding women adhere to breastfeeding of their child while majority of them are on average level. There is a significant relationship between breastfeeding behavior and child spacing among women in Ekiti state. There is no significant difference between breastfeeding behavior among women in Ekiti state based on location. There is a significant difference between age and breastfeeding among women in Ekiti state. Socio-economic status significantly influence child spacing in Ekiti state and there is no significant difference between religion and breastfeeding among women in Ekiti state
It was concluded in this study that relationship exist between breast feeding behavior and child spacing among women in Ekiti state. It was therefore recommended that women should be given orientation on the benefits of breastfeeding to the mental health of the child. The need for child spacing should be emphasized for the women in Ekiti State. There should be a seminar for women in Ekiti State, regardless of their location on the proper way of handling breastfeeding and child pacing.
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