Breastfeeding practices among Malaysian motfiers

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Date
2010
Authors
Ooi Yen, Kuah
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Abstract
The exclusive breastfeeding rate in Malaysia remains low at I 4.5 per cent despite breastfeeding is the best way to provide newborns with the nutrients they need. By utilizing the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), the researcher tried to understand the decision making process of Malaysia mothers when decide for breastfeeding. Based on the TRA, intention is defined as a function of two factors, one is personal attitude and the other one is subjective norm that is influenced by social acceptance. A 160 number of Malaysian mothers were interviewed at a private hospital. Result revealed that 76 per cent of the respondent used to breastfeeding their children before. Among these mothers, 24 per cent of them breastfed their infant for one month only and 32 per cent breastfed for more than 12 months. The most important reason that encourages the mothers to breastfeed is to give the best nutrients and protection against infection for their infants. Lactation and lack of confidence/prior experience are major obstacles that hinder most mothers from breastfeeding. Bas'ed on the survey findings, all research questions have been answered and the hypotheses were supported. Both Attitude and Subjective norm were positively related to the intention of breastfeeding. Test result also shown that Intention to perform breastfeeding can be used as a proxy of behaviour of breastfeeding. Due to the indisputable benefits of breastfeeding, the recent findings warrant health care workers and educators to consider mothers' attitude and subjective norms factors when promoting breastfeeding.
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Keywords
Malaysian mothers , Private Hospital
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