Nutritional attitudes of Breastfeeding Mothers in, Dominican Republic: Case study of Mothers attending the Hospital Ricardo Limardo
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53819/10.53819/81018102t3022Abstract
Maternal nutrition is essential from conception and throughout pregnancy as it is a critical factor in child survival, growth and development. Many breastfeeding mothers do not have adequate knowledge of causes, complications, management and preventive measures of nutritional imbalances during pregnancy, which is responsible for the high prevalence of poor maternal nutritional status. The study sought to establish the attitude and practices among breastfeeding mothers attending Hospital Ricardo Limardo in Dominican Republic. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study targeting a sample of 286 breastfeeding women. Data collection was carried out using structured questionnaires and analyzed using IBM-SPSS version 25 of 2015 software. Breastfeeding mothers had positive attitude towards nutrition. Majority of breastfeeding women were positive towards antenatal check-up during pregnancy. Majority of them also felt that skipping meals among breastfeeding mothers affects their health. The study also concluded that breastfeeding mothers had positive attitude towards nutrition and were willing to consume food that was healthy for them and to the child. The study recommends for the need of subsidizing supplements and nutrients sold in the dispensaries and health centers so that breastfeeding women from low income households can afford them. Subsidizing of supplements and nutrients can be done by government by reducing VAT taxes on these products. It is also recommended that breastfeeding women should be encouraged to be buying foods rich in iron, calcium and folic acid nutrients while avoiding chuck foods that may result to abnormal weight gain for both the mother and the baby.
Keywords: Nutritional attitudes, breastfeeding Mothers, Hospital Ricardo Limardo, Dominican Republic
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