Male involvement in breastfeeding promotion and protection: an assessment of male undergraduates’ views in Sagamu, southwest Nigeria

Objective: Breastfeeding is a cost-effective and evidence-based public health intervention for the control of childhood malnutrition and its consequences. Partners’ support and attitude towards breastfeeding is an important determinant of breastfeeding initiation, continuity, and outcome. This stu...

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Main Authors: Oluwafolahan Sholeye, Peter Otenaike, Tamra Runsewe-Abiodun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Babcock Medical Society 2021-06-01
Series:Babcock University Medical Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://bumj.babcock.edu.ng/index.php/bumj/article/view/72
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author Oluwafolahan Sholeye
Peter Otenaike
Tamra Runsewe-Abiodun
author_facet Oluwafolahan Sholeye
Peter Otenaike
Tamra Runsewe-Abiodun
author_sort Oluwafolahan Sholeye
collection DOAJ
description Objective: Breastfeeding is a cost-effective and evidence-based public health intervention for the control of childhood malnutrition and its consequences. Partners’ support and attitude towards breastfeeding is an important determinant of breastfeeding initiation, continuity, and outcome. This study assessed the perception of breastfeeding and its support among male students in Sagamu, Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 300 male undergraduate students in Sagamu, selected via systematic sampling. Data were collected with the aid of a structured, self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS 21.0, with results presented as frequencies and proportions.   Result: The mean age of respondents was 20±3.5 years. All respondents felt it was important for women to breastfeed their infants; 42% of respondents felt breastfeeding interfered with work; 20% felt women should be entitled to paid maternity leave; 85% will support efforts to promote breastfeeding in public; 95% will encourage their partners to breastfeed while working outside the home; 92% will assist their breastfeeding partners with household chores. Conclusion: Respondents had a good perception of breastfeeding and were willing to support its practice at home, work, and in the community. Adequate engagement of men in nutrition education activities will be most effective in promoting and protecting breastfeeding.
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spelling doaj.art-67cd00881f4b4cc096e9bbb2e736e10f2022-12-21T20:11:06ZengBabcock Medical SocietyBabcock University Medical Journal2465-66662756-46572021-06-014110.38029/bumj.v4i1.7275Male involvement in breastfeeding promotion and protection: an assessment of male undergraduates’ views in Sagamu, southwest NigeriaOluwafolahan SholeyePeter Otenaike0Tamra Runsewe-Abiodun1Federal Medical Center, AbeokutaOlabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu CampusObjective: Breastfeeding is a cost-effective and evidence-based public health intervention for the control of childhood malnutrition and its consequences. Partners’ support and attitude towards breastfeeding is an important determinant of breastfeeding initiation, continuity, and outcome. This study assessed the perception of breastfeeding and its support among male students in Sagamu, Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 300 male undergraduate students in Sagamu, selected via systematic sampling. Data were collected with the aid of a structured, self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS 21.0, with results presented as frequencies and proportions.   Result: The mean age of respondents was 20±3.5 years. All respondents felt it was important for women to breastfeed their infants; 42% of respondents felt breastfeeding interfered with work; 20% felt women should be entitled to paid maternity leave; 85% will support efforts to promote breastfeeding in public; 95% will encourage their partners to breastfeed while working outside the home; 92% will assist their breastfeeding partners with household chores. Conclusion: Respondents had a good perception of breastfeeding and were willing to support its practice at home, work, and in the community. Adequate engagement of men in nutrition education activities will be most effective in promoting and protecting breastfeeding.http://bumj.babcock.edu.ng/index.php/bumj/article/view/72BreastfeedingMaleYoungAdultPerceptionSupport
spellingShingle Oluwafolahan Sholeye
Peter Otenaike
Tamra Runsewe-Abiodun
Male involvement in breastfeeding promotion and protection: an assessment of male undergraduates’ views in Sagamu, southwest Nigeria
Babcock University Medical Journal
Breastfeeding
Male
Young
Adult
Perception
Support
title Male involvement in breastfeeding promotion and protection: an assessment of male undergraduates’ views in Sagamu, southwest Nigeria
title_full Male involvement in breastfeeding promotion and protection: an assessment of male undergraduates’ views in Sagamu, southwest Nigeria
title_fullStr Male involvement in breastfeeding promotion and protection: an assessment of male undergraduates’ views in Sagamu, southwest Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed Male involvement in breastfeeding promotion and protection: an assessment of male undergraduates’ views in Sagamu, southwest Nigeria
title_short Male involvement in breastfeeding promotion and protection: an assessment of male undergraduates’ views in Sagamu, southwest Nigeria
title_sort male involvement in breastfeeding promotion and protection an assessment of male undergraduatesa€™ views in sagamu southwest nigeria
topic Breastfeeding
Male
Young
Adult
Perception
Support
url http://bumj.babcock.edu.ng/index.php/bumj/article/view/72
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