ABSTRACT

Background: Proper handling and storage of expressed breast milk are essential for the health and well-being of infants.

Objective: This study aims to assess the knowledge and practices of working lactating mothers in the Molyko community regarding the handling and storage of expressed breast milk. Specific objectives include evaluating mothers’ understanding of breast milk expression and storage, examining common practices, and identifying the challenges they face.

Method: A cross-sectional study design was employed, targeting working lactating mothers in the Molyko community. A convenient non-probability sampling technique was used, and well-structured questionnaires were administered to collect data. The data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2016, with presentation formats including frequency tables, bar charts, and pie charts, and quantitative variables expressed as proportions and percentages.

Results: The study found that a significant portion of participants (62%) demonstrated inadequate knowledge about the proper handling and storage of expressed breast milk. While 50% understood the importance of refrigeration for short-term storage, misconceptions about room temperature storage persisted. Additionally, 70% of mothers reported regularly expressing milk, but challenges such as pain and insufficient milk supply were prevalent.

Conclusion: The study revealed a considerable gap in knowledge regarding breast milk handling and storage among working lactating mothers. Although some mothers practiced regular milk expression, misconceptions and challenges indicate a need for improvement.

Recommendation: Community outreach programs should be established to educate mothers on the importance of proper breast milk handling and storage, thereby enhancing infant nutrition and health in the Molyko community.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1: Background

The first 100 days of life from conception until age 2 years are critical for the optimal growth and development of infants and young children (Kimani-Murage et al., 2011; Ayisi et al., 2014). The 2016 Lancet series on breastfeeding estimate that scaling up breastfeeding to near universal levels would prevent 823,000 deaths in children under five years annually (Victoraet al., 2016). The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. The fifth global target in the comprehensive implementation plan on maternal infant and young child nutrition is to increase the rate of exclusive breastfeeding from 38.0% in 2012 to greater than 50% by 2025 (WHO, 2018).

The International Labour Organization (ILO) convention 2000 proposed a period of paid maternity leave of not less than 14 weeks (ILO, 2000). The Cameroonian labour laws provide for 12 weeks maternity leave in the Employment Act. Only the women working in the formal sector can benefit from such a provision yet three quarters of the Cameroonian population work in the informal sector (ILO, 2000). With time, lactating women who are faced with the prospect of returning to work, have developed strategies to continue breast-feeding while working e.g. expressing breast milk, cease breastfeeding, or negotiate a reduced-hour or flexigotiate a reduced-hour or flexible schedule with their employer (Sarah et al., 2018). Expression of breast milk is becoming a normalized behavior among breastfeeding women.

In Cameroon, the exclusive breastfeeding rate was 40.0% in 2018 according to the Cameroon Demographic Health Survey (CDHS). However, there seems to be a steady decline of exclusive breastfeeding rate from 3-5 months (CDHS). This could be explained by a Cameroon study by Van et al. (2019) Which shows that 52.0% of women resumed work within 3 months of child birth. This means that work might have a negative effect in the overall ability of a woman to maintain lactation. With exterted efforts towards improving the quality of life of the girl child, more and more women are joining the work force. currently, women make up 50% of the total labour work force globally and 46.0% in Cameroon (CDHS, 2018).

According to Onah et al., (2014) the efforts to promote modest nutritional improvements such as changes in feeding behaviour will have a beneficial impact on reducing mortality rates over time, thus the feeding practices adopted by mothers depends on the knowledge, attitude, socio-cultural tradition they are exposed to. Owing to the known nutritional and health benefits to the infant. Women in resource poor countries exclusively breastfeed until their babies reach 6 months of age (Onah et al., 2014). This is due to the fact that breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding for six months can protect infants from short term illnesses such as gastroenteritis, respiratory infection and under nutrition; and in the long term, against chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension and obesity (Khanal et al., 2014).Adequate nutrition during infancy and early childhood is essential to ensure the growth, health, and development of children to their full potential (Kassa et al., 2016).

It has been recognized worldwide that breastfeeding is beneficial for both the mother and child (Breastfeeding plays a vital and influential role on the duration of amenorrhoea, child survival, and fertility, offering protection to an infant against early morbidity and mortality), as breast milk is considered the best source of nutrition for an infant (Motee et al., 2013; Akter and Rahman, 2010). Despite the advantages of breastfeeding, some of the infant feeding practices are inappropriate, leading to the increase in the prevalence of stunting during the first 18 months of life (mananga et al.,2014) .

1.2 : Problem Statement

In Cameroon, breastfeeding is universal with almost all babies being breastfed but the practice of express breastfeeding is still low with 40% of infants being exclusively breastfed (Frida A, 2018).

This has led to an increased incidence of morbidity from infectious diseases including aortitis media, gastroenteritis and pneumonia as well as elevated risk of childhood obesity, type-1 and type-2 diabetes, leukemia and sudden infant death syndrome (Daniel G, 2020).

The benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for both mother and child are universally acknowledged by health providers, global health agencies and lay people. Many attempts to promote EBF have achieved less than the desired outcome thus defining the purpose of this study.

1.3: Research Questions

1. What is the level of knowledge of working lactating mothers on breast milk expression in the Molyko community?
2. What are the common practices of working lactating mothers on breast milk storage in Molyko community?
3. What are the challenges faced by working lactating mothers expressing and storing breast milk in Molyko community?

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