Baby’s First Food? Tell Mama Breast Always Best

Abstract

The research study was carried out to determine what communication methods were preferred by mothers to encourage them to room-in and breastfeed their babies at birth. The study also wanted to find out whether or not certain variables like the mother’s age, educational attainment, and parity affected their choices. Data was gathered by using the interview schedule on mothers chosen at random who had breastfed their babies while in the hospital. They may or may not have roomed-in their infants. Time period was from June 1995 to December 1999.

There were 50 respondents included in the study classified according to age, educational attainments, and parity. The results were descriptive and frequency distributions and ranking of relevant responses were made. Results showed interpersonal communication with their mothers and attending physicians prior to giving birth prepared mothers for breastfeeding their infants. Interpersonal communication with the attending physicians and relatives was the most preferred methods and had the greatest influence on the decision of the mothers to breastfeed. Age, educational attainment and parity had an influence on the respondent’s choices of preferred methods of communication. Aside from interpersonal communication, some media communication methods were preferred by older mothers. Those with higher parity, preferred television, whereas younger mother with only 1 child preferred books as a source of information for breastfeeding.

The study pointed out that in order to sustain the Baby Friendly Hospital status, interpersonal communication methods with attending physicians, relatives and hospital staff should be encouraged and improved. Media communication methods like posters and leaflets should be also paid attention so they could be better avenues of information and education on breastfeeding the newborn.