DEVELOPMENT OF FUNCTIONAL APPARELS FOR LACTATING MOTHERS IN TARABA STATE NIGERIA

ABSTRACTS

The major purpose of this study was to develop functional apparels for lactating mothers. In order to achieve this, ten specific purposes were stated to guide the study; eight  research questions  were  posed  while  seven  null  hypotheses  were  formulated.  The  study adopted Research and Development (R and D) design and was carried out in Taraba State, Nigeria. The population for this study was 1475 respondents comprising of 1239 lactating mothers between the ages of 18-34, 162 Nurses, 34 Home  Economics Extension Workers and 40

Registered Fashion Designers. Multi-stage and disproportionate stratified random sampling

techniques were used to select 288 subjects for the study. Instruments for data collection in the study were Interview Schedule for Nurses on Need  Assessment  (ISNNA),  Functional Apparel  Needs Assessment  Questionnaire  for Lactating  Mothers  (FANAQLM),  Interview Schedule  for  Home  Economics   Extension  Workers  and   Fashion  Designers  on  Need Assessment (ISHEFDNA). Focus Group Discussion (FGD) for Lactating Mothers on Need Assessment   (FGDLMNA)   and   Questionnaire   for  Evaluation   of  Functional   Lactating Apparels by Judges and user models (QEFAJUM). The instruments were subjected to face validation  by  five  experts,  two  experts  from  the  Department  of  Home  Economics  and Hospitality Management Education; one from Measurement and Evaluation, Department of Science  Education;   all  of  the  University  of  Nigeria,  Nsukka.  One  from  College  of Agriculture, Jalingo, and one from Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi. In order to determine  the  reliability  of the research  instruments,  the  questionnaire  (FANAQLM  and QEFAJUM)  were  trial  tested  by administering  thirty  copies  of  the  questionnaire  to  30 respondents from Plateau State. The FANAQLM yielded reliability index of 0.85, 0.78, 0.93,

0.81, 0.66 and 0.86 for clusters A, B, C, D, E and F respectively and an overall reliability index of 0.91 was determined for the instrument and QEFAJUM yielded a reliability index of

0.94. This was done using Cronbach alpha reliability method. Based on the  geographical spread of the population across the State, four research assistants from the Home Economic Section  of College  of Agriculture  Jalingo  who  know  the terrain  of  the study area  were instructed on how data should be collected for the study while the researcher coordinated the activities  of the four research assistants  and collated  the  retrieved  questionnaire  after the period of administration for data analysis. All the instruments administered to the respondents were returned which represent 100% return rate. Mean and standard deviation were used for answering the research questions while ANOVA was used to test hypotheses 1-6 and t-test statistics was used in testing hypothesis 7, all at 0.05 level of probability. The findings of the study showed that lactating mothers engaged in 15 various operations/activities  involved in lactation, there  are 12 functional apparels’ needs for lactating mothers, there are 19 design criteria to  be  adopted  to produce functional apparels to accommodate  the needs/activities performed by lactating mothers, there are nine functional and five aesthetic design features preferred by the lactating mothers, there are four functional openings with fastening needs for easy and discreet lactation. Based on the findings of the study, seven functional apparels were developed  and  coded  for  easy  identification.  Therefore,  the  researcher  recommends  that clothing manufacturers,  designers,  and entrepreneurial  should recognize functional apparel needs for lactating mothers during their process of construction. They should also consider fashion,  aesthetic,  fit, fabric and design in  conjunction  with functionality of the lactating apparels. They should provide diverse sizes assortment for the lactating mothers.

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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Functional apparels are as important during lactation as lactation itself. Technological transformation  of clothes  and other  clothing materials  into  finished  products  suitable  for human  usage  especially  in the  present  dispensation  has  added  the knowledge  and  skills required for the development of functional apparels for different purposes.

Throughout recorded time, clothing along with food and shelter has been recognized as one of the primary needs of people in all parts of the world.  In recent years, other basic necessities  have  been added  such as health care,  transportation,  and  sufficient  economic assets to obtain an adequate level of living.   Whatever  be the  priority,  food, shelter  and clothing remain essential elements necessary for human well-being. The need for breast milk as a source of food for the baby calls for the need to encourage the mothers to breast feed properly. Lactation or breast feeding process is a life-saving activity that is mandatory for all child-bearing women, except otherwise on health reasons. This process is made even more mandatory with the advent of  Exclusive  Breast Feeding which is Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI). Most human endeavours are engaged with various activities and lactation is not an exception. These activities ranged from child birth to overall nursing. This therefore, has  prompted  the  need  for  the  development  of  functional  apparels  to  enhance  lactating mothers’ modesty, comfort and security during breast feeding.

Apparels are articles of dress that are worn to cover, protect or decorate human body. Carrol (2001) noted that apparel is an important facet of human constructed  environment, surrounding an individual and that has bearing on the quality of life. Watkins (2005) stated that apparel is a portable environment.  Based on these assertions, apparels are complex but

very important aspect of everyone’s life. Anyakoha (2015) defined apparels as garments or

1

dresses that people put on. These include gowns, skirts, blouses, shirts, trousers and so on. Similarly, Kaiser (1997) argued that apparels are articles or materials put on the human body. From the above assertions,  apparels are special clothes and garments and  can be seen as materials that can be put on human body. Clothes are referred to any material worn to adorn or cover the body, whereas, garments are articles of clothing such as dresses, suits, and other clothing  materials.  Therefore,  in  the  context  of  this  study,  apparels,  clothes  as  well  as garments are synonymous and can be used interchangeably. Technological transformation of clothes  and  other  clothing  materials  into  finished   products  suitable  for  human  usage especially in the present dispensation has added to the knowledge and skills required for the development of functional apparels for different purposes.

Functional  apparel  is  a  specially  designed  clothing  item.  Deepti  (2011)  defined functional apparel is a relatively new and exciting segment of the technical textiles group. Functional apparel is known to perform multiple functions from aesthetic to basic protection from life threat and environmental hazards among others. Functional apparels can therefore be  defined  as  a  generic  term  that  include  all  types  of  apparels  or  assemblies  that  are specifically engineered to deliver a pre-defined performance or functionality to the user over and above its normal functions (Deepti, 2011). Such apparels would normally be made from the mixture of innovative materials and the functionality in this case would imply the benefit or function that the apparel is expected to perform. It can be apparels that protect individuals who are exposed to life threatening, hazardous environments during work or during sporting activities  or  that   can  facilitate  movement  and  body  balance  in  physically  challenged individuals or that enhance stamina or reduce fatigue in sports people. It can also be apparels that perform a purely aesthetic function like enhancing body shapes.

Functional  apparel  assemblies  are  ergonomically  designed  to  have  a  minimum inhibitory effect on movement and provide maximum comfort and performance to the user.

Functional clothing is based on broad design parameters used in the development of products for a particular  function  and  they are  in six classes  which  include  protective-functional, medical-functional,   sports-functional,   vanity-functional,   cross-functional   assemblies  and clothing for special needs group (Lawrence and  Lawrence, 2011). Each distinct class may have sub-classes with similar principles  governing the design of products within that sub- class, even as the final products may find application in a variety of fields (See Appendix A, p. 222).

This study covers clothing for special needs people. Special needs group means the group of people who deviate from the normal in physical, mental, social characteristics and activities to such an extent that they need special clothing (Goldsworthy, 1981). Thus, special group in this case is considered  as one whose  clothing requirement  is different  from the normal  group.  This  special  group   encompasses  doctors,  nurses,  fire-fighters,  soldiers, welders, astronauts, disabled,  paraplegics,  elderly, children, infants, pregnant and lactating women among others. Clothing for special needs may find an application in improving the quality of life for the above mentioned human population. This is because their body shape, size, mobility or dexterity and activities are significantly different from that of normal people. For the  purpose  of this study, lactating mothers  serve as special needs group  that needs functional lactating apparels. Functional lactating apparels are designed with special features that allow for easy lactation while enhancing discrete lactation. Lactating mothers are nursing or breastfeeding  mothers.  Lactating  mothers  are  those  women  who  are  within  the  child bearing stage that nurse their babies directly from their own breast.  Lactating mothers are charged with the responsibility of breastfeeding the babies from birth to the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding up to two years of age  or beyond. This responsibility becomes even more mandatory for every nursing mother  except those mothers with health challenges. Because lactation is a process that is made up of numerous activities and most of

which needs privacy, it becomes difficult and stressful for the lactating mothers to breastfeed comfortably in the public places. The reason being that the lactating mothers always bare the breast and some discreet parts of the body during the lactating process. Most societies do not condone  the exposure  associated  with  lactation,  Taraba  State  have such societies.  These societies sometimes humiliates and embarrass the lactating mothers because of the exposure. All these happened  as a result of lack of appropriate  apparels that will enhance modesty during  lactation.  The lactating  mothers  use regular  apparels  which do not have  lactating features  to provide  proper  coverage.  Therefore,  there  is a need  for  a suitable  functional apparels to resolve the above dilemma.  Suitable apparels for this group, will add comfort, confidence and integrity to motherhood.

For lactating mothers, appropriate apparel may also reduce undue exposure, therefore, aid discreet lactation. This gives a feeling of self-confidence  and comfort  and  the mother feels physically, psychologically and socially at ease. Thus, apparel needs to be designed and constructed for special group in order to carry out their activities more conveniently.  One of such special groups is the lactating mothers whose duty is to breastfeed their children.

National attention has been focused on the rights of children to be breast fed in public places at will. This is in line with the provision of World Health Organization (WHO, 2012) when  they  founded  Exclusive  Breast  Feeding  (EBF),  which  is  Baby  Friendly  Hospital Initiative (BFHI). According to World Health Organization (WHO, 2012), Exclusive Breast Feeding (EBF) means giving breast milk alone with no water or other substitutes to babies for a period of six months.  According to WHO (2012), EBF ensures optimal health, growth and development of the child; and that the age long conventional method of using breast milk side by side with water and herbal teas to  feed  babies is hazardous to the infant’s life. In less developed countries, Nigeria  inclusive, lactation is the community norm.   This is because Nigerian people cherish  their cultures and traditions.  Taraba State, being one of the sub-

ethnic groups in the north-eastern  part of Nigeria,  is a multi-cultural  and religion  setting which also cherishes breast feeding. However, the culture does not condone exposure even during lactation.   This is because the standards of modesty in Taraba State discourages or forbids exposure of parts of the body especially for the female folk. This includes areas of skin, hair, undergarments, and especially intimate parts.

Culturally  and  religiously,  Taraba  State  upholds  modesty  in  clothing  code  and lactation is not an excuse for exposure. Despite this, modernism crept into Taraba State, just like other African societies, where lactating mothers do not dress in accordance with the ideal code of dressing when breast feeding. Culturally, it is expected that a Taraban woman should be  dressed  in a  cloth  that  covers  the  totality of  the  breast  down  to  the  feet  to prevent exposure. But what is obtainable in Taraba State today is different from the acceptable codes of dressing. There is therefore the need for functional apparels during lactation phase because lactation in some regular clothes become  awkward,  embarrassing  and may lead to undue exposure. The best functional apparels for lactating mothers, do not only offer good coverage but also provide comfort and don not bind the breast in any way that could interfere with breast milk flow. Therefore, for optimum comfort, the apparels must be of correct size.

Size as a concept may mean different thing to different people all over the universe. According to Smorynki (2008), size refers to the concept of things, usually physical objects, having  measurements  that  are relatively  greater  or lesser than other  things  along certain dimensions in physical space such as length, width, height, diameter, perimeter, area, volume or mass.  In a related development, Abali (2015) argued that size is a distinctive characteristic which  differentiate  or  compares  one  object  with  the  other  based  on  shape  or  physical properties. A size creates an identity for an object, person or thing whether big, medium or small. In relation to apparels or clothing, the size of the cloth has a lot to say about the wearer

as being over-sized,  under-sized,  or medium.  It may equally be decent or immoral.  Size therefore is indispensible for assessing the look or status of objects or persons.

Size relates to the apparent view of an object and it is expressed in terms of bigness, smallness and relative terms as perceived by a person.  Aldrich (2002) equally views size in relation to clothing as a designation system which explains the manner in which apparel fit into the wearer such as girl, women, boy or man. The unit of  measurement  for sizing in apparel construction is centimeters  or inches expressed  as  straight or girth measurements. Since lactating period is a time when most mothers need comfortable functional apparels to support their fluctuating body sizes, it is worth taking correct body measurements. Aldrich (2002) also stated that for an apparel production to fit the wearer appropriately, there has to be  correct  body  measurements.  This  explains  the  rationale  for  taking  measurements  of individuals prior to apparel development and construction.  Development is aimed at creating a beautiful object that possesses both aesthetics and functionality.  It is also referred to as the process  of  creating something  new.  To  develop  means  to  come  out  with  new  ideas  or products that are workable, or moderating existing products to be useful to users. For the purpose of this research, the product to be developed is functional lactating apparels which is a very important aspect because it enhances discreet lactation.

Development  is the  process  of changing  and  becoming  larger,  stronger,  or  more impressive,  successful,  or advanced, or causing somebody or something to  change in this way.  Development  concepts  are  obtained  from  various  sources  like  textile  and  colour forecasts, photographs and natural objects (Aldrich, 2002). In development, the combination of aesthetics and function takes place in the mind and  the two aspects must be carefully considered right from the beginning of the development. The art of development is more than just creativity; it entails conceptualization of the needs of the wearer and accommodating the solution to those  needs in the developed  product.  The aesthetic  aspect  is created  by the

interplay of line, form (shape and space), texture and colour of the cloth and other materials used in the apparel. These are termed as the principles and elements of design or the building blocks of design (Weber, 1990). These elements and principles of design must be applied artistically. The artistic guidelines that dictate the use of the elements of design are balance, proportion, emphasis, rhythm and harmony. The elements and principles of design properly applied, work together to bring about beauty and effectiveness (functionality) of the designed apparel for the lactating mothers. The lactating mothers for whom prototype apparel should be produced, tested and corrected to meet the desired specifications have small, medium and large bust sizes. Prototype  apparel is apparel made to specification  of the design for the purpose  of fitting  using  a cheaper  fabric.  The  beginning  of the production  process  after development is the drafting of the patterns.

The drafting of patterns prior to apparel construction is very crucial to a dress-maker, since it provides opportunity for adoption or alteration after series of fitting using prototype apparels on the figure before the final apparel construction. Pattern drafting or development is the art of drawing and documenting all instructions needed  for constructing apparel or any sewing  project  (Weber,  1990).  Igbo  and  Iloeje,  (2012)  note  that  pattern  drafting  is  an engineering approach to producing patterns using a set of measurements of the figure. They further state that pattern is to the dress designer as what the blue print is to the architect since it is the design of the apparel cut to size and shape of the figure. Many approaches to drafting of  pattern  have  been  developed  which  include  modeling  or  draping;  knock-off-design, computer-aided designs, modifying from a set of patterns and flat pattern method. Drafted patterns  after  standardization  can be  sold  as commercial  patterns.  However,  commercial patterns available in the market presently do not have design provisions for discreet lactation, thus making it imperative for the need of making and development of patterns for functional apparel for lactating mothers.

Pattern making is an art. More so, it is the art of manipulating and shaping a flat piece of fabric to conform to one or more curves of the human figure. Pattern making is a bridge function between design and production. A sketch can be turned into a  garment through a pattern that interprets the design in the form of the garment components (Cooklin, 1994). A pattern is a flat piece while the body is not. The body has height, width and depth. Within this roughly cylindrical framework, there are series of secondary curves and bulges which are of concern to the pattern maker. The curves need to be converted by the means of darts. Darts are  the  basis  of  all  pattern  making.  They  convert  the  flat  piece  of  cloth  into  a  three dimensional form which fit the bulges of the body. A pattern-maker typically makes a pattern from a flat sketch with measurements of a two dimensional fashion illustration. The basic pattern is the very foundation upon which pattern making, fit and design are based. The basic pattern is the starting point for flat pattern designing. It is a simple pattern that fits the body with just enough ease for movement and comfort (Shoben & Ward, 2000).

Pattern making is an activity that involves accurate measurement  using appropriate instrument. Pattern making according to Igbo and Iloeje, (2012) involves methods such as drafting, draping and flat paper patternmaking. Drafting involves measurements derived from sizing   systems   or  accurate   measurements   taken  on  a   person,   dress  or  body  form. Measurements for chest, waist, hip and so on, and ease allowances are marked on paper and construction  lines  are  drawn  to  complete  the  pattern.  Drafting  is  used  to  create  basic, foundation or design patterns. Draping involves the wrapping of a two dimensional piece of fabric around  a form conforming  to its shape as well creating a three-dimensional  fabric pattern  with  muslin.  This  muslin  is  transferred  to  paper  to  be  used  as  a  final  pattern (Armstrong,   2000).   Ease   allowances   for  movement   are  added  to  make  the  garment comfortable to  wear. Advantage of draping is that, the designer can see the overall design effect of the  finished garment on the body form before the garment piece is cut and sewn.

However, it is more expensive and time consuming than flat pattern making. More so, Flat Pattern Making involves the development of a fitted basic pattern with comfort ease to fit a person or body form and also development of a sloper. A sloper is the starting point for flat pattern designing. It is a simple pattern that fits the body with just enough ease for movement and comfort and is extended  beyond  the waistline  for adoption for  normal blouse length (Shoben & Ward, 2000).

Five basic pattern pieces are used for women’s clothing. They include a snug-fitting bodice front and bodice back with darts and a basic neckline, a sleeve and a fitted skirt front and  back  with  darts  (Shoben  &  Ward,  2000).  However,  as  fashion  changes  frequently women’s styles fluctuate frequently, hence, there is a need for the use of sloper. These basic slopers are then manipulated to create fashions. A basic sloper has no seam allowances which facilitates its manipulations to various styles. It has no design ease, only construction lines are marked  on  it.  It  is  necessary  that  the  basic  structure  of  a  sloper  should  be  such  that adjustments can be introduced easily. For a good pattern making, accurate measurements are of utmost importance. The flat  pattern-making method is widely used in the ready-to-wear market because it is fast and  accurate (Aldrich, 1997). Based on the need for taking body measurements,  this  study  employed  the  flat  pattern-drafting  method  in  developing  the functional apparels for lactating mothers in Taraba State, Nigeria. Pattern-drafting methods by the  following scholars were adopted: Hilary (1990); Neukam, (2013); Central Board of Secondary Education  and National  Institution  of Fashion Technology (2014)  and Igbo  & Iloeje, 2012).

Statement of the Problem

In the entire world’s societies, regulation of sexual activity appear to be hedged by various  taboos  and  restrictions,  most  of  which  are  considered  essential  to  the  ordly functioning  of the kinship  system.  The role clothing plays  in stimulating  or  diminishing

sexual interest, therefore, becomes a matter that is symbolic of the moral standards in any given culture. In general, the relationship between clothes and sex centres on the degree of exposure, concealment, or emphasis given to particular parts of the body.

Even today in many parts of the world, religious bans continue to impose restrictions on dress and appearance.

Taraba State of Nigeria is not an exception of this restriction placed on dress  and appearance. There is a general consensus of appropriate clothing standard and  usage. This consensus results in how clothing particularly should look like, or what occasion a particular cloth should be worn and how it should be worn to prevent unnecessary exposure. The issue of exposure during lactation is a global phenomenon which has eaten deep into fabrics of the lactating mothers, though, some countries accept it as normal, others frown at exposure and as a result place laws on it. For instance, a  32-year old mother and Baker County, Idaho, resident has been ordered to serve a 7-year prison sentence after receiving several indecent exposure  citations  for  breastfeeding  her  6  -month  old  daughter  in public  (Anna,  2016). Taraba State is one  of the states in North-Eastern  part of Nigeria that frowns at immoral dressing during lactation.

Culturally  and  religiously,  Taraba  State  upholds  modesty  in  clothing  code  and lactation is not an excuse for exposure. Modernism crept into Taraba State, just like other African societies, where lactating mothers do not dress in accordance with the ideal code of dressing when breast feeding. Culturally,  it is expected  that a Taraban  woman should be dressed in a cloth that covers the totality of the breast down to the feet to prevent exposure. But  what  is obtainable  in Taraba  State  today is  different  from  the  acceptable  codes  of dressing. It was observed also that lactating mothers in Taraba State show signs of shyness about public lactation. It is not uncommon to see babies crying and yelling for food and their mothers rocking and trying to pacify them in public instead of breast-feeding them. This is

because mothers may not want to expose their breasts or some other vital parts of their bodies in public. Women in Taraba State are seen struggling with the unsuitable apparels worn by them in a bid to breast-feed their babies in public. In the process of this struggle, the lactating mothers end up pulling out the whole breast or lifting up their  apparels thereby exposing other discreet  parts of their  bodies.  This happens  because  lactating  mothers do not have functional apparels with which to lactate discreetly. (See Appendix B, p. 225)

Previous  studies  have  focused   on  the  development   of  functional  apparel   for cosmetologists,  the relationship between the apparel needs of young lactating mothers and their sexual risk; adolescent  soccer  uniform  needs and the specific  garment  types of the soccer uniform and many others. These studies pay little or no attention to the development of functional  apparels  for lactating mothers  both within  and outside  Nigeria,  particularly Taraba State of Nigeria. The needs and criteria for the development of functional apparels for lactating mothers have been largely ignored. Functional apparels that enhance modesty and easy lactation can contribute to saving lives of the babies by increasing mother’s satisfaction and thereby willingness to lactate  freely at anytime and anywhere.   Based on the peculiar socio-cultural and religious configuration of the Taraba State in terms of its diversity, there is the need for a study that will provide insights on how functional apparels could be developed for lactating  mothers.  This is the  gap  in scholarship  that this current  study seeks to fill. Therefore, this study seeks to develop functional apparels to aid lactating mothers carry out their function of lactation discreetly to avoid exposure in Taraba State of Nigeria.

Purpose of the Study

The study aimed to develop functional apparels for lactating mothers in Taraba State of Nigeria. Specifically, the study seeks to:

1.        determine the various activities involved in lactation;

2.        determine  the  functional  apparel  needs  of  lactating  mothers  in  Taraba  State, Nigeria;

3.        establish design criteria based on the findings of  number 1 and 2 above and  to develop creative ideas for the prototype apparel;

4.        determine functional design features preferred by the lactating mothers in Taraba

State of Nigeria;

5.        determine aesthetic design features preferred by the lactating mothers in Taraba

State of Nigeria;

6.        determine functional openings   with fastening preferences for lactating mothers and select the final design idea;

7.        establish average body measurements of different sizes of lactating mothers and group them into small, medium, and large size-busted groups respectively;

8.        draft pattern pieces for the three sizes (small,  medium,  and large) of  lactating mothers in Taraba State of Nigeria;

9.        construct the functional prototype apparels based on the pattern pieces  drafted;

and

10.      determine the mean rating of judges and user models on functional apparels  in terms of movement, fitness, safety, comfort, aesthetic, discreet and general utility.

Significance of the Study

This study has both theoretical and practical significance. Theoretically, this study is anchored on theory of modesty by Thomas (1899). The theory advanced that  clothing was merely used for protection of one’s body to create modesty or decency. The theory traced the origin of modesty in dressing to the book of Genesis chapters 3 verse 1-24 in the Bible where it was stated that Adam and Eve realized their state of being naked when they consumed the fruit from the knowledge tree. In addition, in shame,  they both stitched clothes out of fig

leaves, hence, the name fig leaf theory. The theory considered shame to be the only reason behind clothing. This theory is related to the present study, which is on the development of functional apparel for lactating mothers. The major reason behind the  development of the apparel is to enhance modesty during lactation. Hence, this study will help to validate the theory of modesty.

The  following  group  of  people  will  benefit  immensely  from  the  findings  of  the present study, they are: the government,  health establishments,  lactating mothers,  clothing production entrepreneurs, clothing construction sector of the economy,  curriculum planners and educational sectors, men, society and finally, babies.

The research will provide information for the government and health establishments. The drafted pattern resulting from this study will be used for constructing functional apparels for lactating mothers. The provision of the lactating apparels to this special group of people will help the government achieve her policies on exclusive breast-feeding; hence, women will be free to lactate in the public conveniently because they can now discreetly do so without compromising fashion. Information obtained from this research will also help the government to formulate polices in relation to clothing for lactating mothers.

The study will be of great significance to the lactating mothers because the specially designed  apparels  will  give  the  lactating  mothers  a  whole  new  look  that  is  practical, comfortable,  convenient and attractive.  Hence, the use of lactating  apparels which are not only functional but also flattering to the figure will provide comfort and freedom in clothing and  lactation.  The  lactating  mothers  will  enjoy  physical,  emotional  and  psychological stability  since  lactation  will become  discreet  and  enjoyable.  Therefore,  this makes  them appreciate apparels that do not just give them comfort and convenience but that which makes them look beautiful and feel good.

The functional  lactating  apparels  with specialized  design  could provide  additional support to mothers to lactate and as well permit comfortable lactation without the need to remove the garment. Specially design features that can easily be opened or removed just to expose only the nipple would achieve this. This is the goal this study seeks to archive, to develop functional apparels for lactating mothers in Taraba State.

Clothing production entrepreneurs  will benefit from this study since the  developed draft from this study could be adopted into patterns for mass production of  such lactating apparels. Sale of lactating apparel produced from the pattern will generate income for such entrepreneurs.

The construction of lactating apparels could also provide employment for individuals in the apparel construction sector of the economy. It could as well give them new hint about the importance of ensuring the functionality of every design they wish to go into, especially when constructing apparels for lactating mothers.

Curriculum planners and the education sector will find this research very relevant and handy. The results from this study will aid curriculum planners in planning and scheduling practical for functional pattern drafting of clothing and textile students especially in tertiary institutions. For instance, the method of drafting the lactating apparel in this study could be adopted in teaching pattern drafting in the tertiary institutions. The research findings can be compiled  as a textbook for teaching some  courses in Home Economics  since there is an impetus by the government to integrate them into the main stream by establishing policies for freedom of lactation.

The men will also benefit from the study immensely because the level of seduction, lust and arousal as a result of exposures of some essential parts of the women’s body will be reduced drastically. The society will as a matter of fact benefit from the study as the level of sexual harassment and rapping will be minimized thereby bringing sanity to the environment

and the community respectively. It will further bring peace by reducing conflicts arising from different backgrounds, culture and religious belief. Finally, the study will be of great benefit to the baby being nursed, for comfort, relaxation, love, security and peace is guaranteed with the use of functional apparel during lactation. This may lead to opportunity of full benefits of breast milk by the baby.

Research Questions

The following research questions guided this study:

1.        what are the various activities involved in lactation?

2.        what  are  the  functional  apparels’  needs  for  lactating  mothers  in Taraba  State  of

Nigeria?

3.        what   design   criteria   should   be   adopted   to   produce   functional   apparels   to accommodate the needs and the activities performed by lactating mothers in Taraba State, Nigeria?

4.        what are the functional design features preferred by the lactating mothers in Taraba

State of Nigeria?

5.        what are the aesthetic design features preferred  by the lactating mothers in  Taraba

State of Nigeria?

6.        what are the functional openings with fastening preferences for lactating mothers?

7.        what  are  the  average  body  measurements   of  lactating  mothers  based  on   the measurement of small, medium, and large size-based group?

8.        what  are  the  mean rating of model users  and  judges  on evaluation  of  functional apparels in terms of movement, fitness, safety, comfort, aesthetic, discreet and general utility?

Research Hypotheses

The following hypotheses (H0) were formulated for the study and were tested at 0.05 level of probability:

H01:    There is no significant difference in the mean rating of lactating mothers with small, medium and large bust size on various activities involved in lactation

H02:    There is no significant difference in the mean rating of lactating mothers with small, medium and large bust size on functional apparel needs of lactating mothers

H03:    There is no significant difference in the mean rating of lactating mothers with small, medium  and large  bust size on design criteria  that should  be adopted  to  produce functional  apparels  to  accommodate  the  needs  and  the  activities  performed  by lactating mothers

H04:    There is no significant difference in the mean rating of lactating mothers with small, medium and large bust size on functional design feature to be used in the production of functional lactating apparels of lactating mothers

H05:    There is no significant difference in the mean rating of lactating mothers with small, medium  and  large  bust  size  on  aesthetics  design  features  preference  of  lactating mothers

Ho6:  There is no significant difference in the mean rating of lactating mothers with small, medium and large bust size on functional  openings  with fastenings  preferences  of lactating mothers

H07:       There is no significant difference in the mean rating of judges and user models on evaluation of the functional apparels of lactating mothers.

Scope of the Study

The study was limited to the lactating mothers between the ages of 18-34 years  in

Taraba State of Nigeria. The study was also delimited to only the Government hospitals i.e.
Federal  Medical  Centre  (MCH  Unit),  Specialist  Hospital  Jalingo  (MCH  Unit)  and  other Maternal Child Health (MCH) Centers in the state. Topically,  the study was  delimited  to literatures  related  to  the  study.  It  also  covers  various  activities  involved  in  lactation, functional  apparel  needs of  lactating  mothers,  design  criteria,  functional  design  features, aesthetic design features, functional openings with fastening, average body measurements of lactating mothers, pattern drafting, prototype apparels as well as mean rating of judges and user models.

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