International Journal of Nursing

Examining the Practice of Exclusive Breastfeeding among Professional Working Mothers in Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana
Janet Danso

Abstract
This study examined the practice of exclusive breastfeeding among professional working mothers in Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. The study design used for this research was crosssectional survey. The study population consisted of professional working mothers, aged 40 or younger, who were in full-time employment and working in Kumasi metropolis of Ghana. Purposive and random samplings were also used and sample size was 1000. Questionnaire was the research instrument used in this study. From the study findings, even though the respondents were well-informed about exclusive breastfeeding, 48% of professional working mothers were able to practice exclusive breastfeeding and 52% could not practice exclusive breastfeeding according to World Health Organisation recommended practice of exclusive breastfeeding. The study concluded that professional working mothers find it difficult to exclusively breastfeed their babies and full time employment status and family members’ influence undermine the practice of exclusive breastfeeding. It was recommended that government must guarantee that workplace is free of harassment and discrimination against women who prefer to breastfeed their babies through appropriate mechanisms and employers must provide breastfeeding and expressing facilities at the work place to be used by breastfeeding employees and these facilities have to be hygienic, comfortable and private and include hand washing and milk storage facilities.

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