WOMEN’S PERCEPTION OF BABY FRIENDLY AND CONVENTIONAL BABY FEEDING PRACTICES

 This study examined the perception of women in Taraba State of Nigeria on Baby friendly Hospital initiative (BFHI) and the conventional baby feeding practices. The objective of the study was to find out the general perception of women on the whole programme and its benefit as well as to ascertained whether or not they accept the programme. The general method used for the study was a survey in which 382 nursing mothers from 8 local government areas out of the 16 Local Government Areas in Taraba State were selected, using the random sampling technique. A stratified sampling was used for the seclection of the 8 Local Government Areas.

 Data was collected using a self moderated questionnaire called (Baby friendly Hospital Initiative Perception Scales). The instalment was validated by this researcher’s supervisors and through a pilot study. After which a correlation coefficient of size 0.86 was got using Spearman Brown’s formula. Five (5) null hypotheses were formulated for the study and tested at 0.05 alpha level of significance using t-test and one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical techniques. The result showed that all the five (5) null hypothesis were rejected, meaning that all the variables tested for instance age, religion, location and education among others significantly influence women’s perception of the BFHI programme. Also, the findings showed that the v i i general perception of women on the BFHI is positive. In the process, it is also found that a number of the respondents do not know or understand some of the benefits of the BFHI. On the basis of these findings therefore, some recommendations were made among them, the need for general education to make the BFHI more effective. It is hoped that this study would serve as an enlightenment to all in Taraba State with regard to nursing mothers on the new method of infant feeding exclusive breast feeding.

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