Barriers to Postnatal Care and Exclusive Breastfeeding among Urban Women in Southeastern Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Available evidence shows that only a small proportion of Nigerian women access postnatal care and practice exclusive breastfeeding. Given that both interventions are critical to the survival of both the mother and the new born; it is important to identify factors that militate against an effective postnatal care and exclusive breastfeeding in the country; in order to scale up services. The aim was to determine the major barriers to postnatal care and exclusive breastfeeding among urban women in southeastern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 400 urban market women using semistructured questionnaires and focus group discussions. Results: Out of 400 women interviewed; 365 (91.7) attended postnatal clinic. Lack of knowledge about postnatal care services (42.2; n = 14); distant location of the hospitals (36.4; n = 12) and feeling that postnatal visits was not necessary (21.1; n = 7) were the main reasons for non-attendance to postnatal clinic. With respect to exclusive breastfeeding; 143 (35.9) of the women practiced EBF. The main reasons for nonpractice of EBF were that EBF was very stressful (26.2; n = 67); mother's refusal (23.5; n = 60); and the feeling that EBF was not necessary (18.1; n = 46). Thirty five (13.7) of the women were constrained by time while the husband's refusal accounted for 1.5 (n = 3) of the reasons for nonpractice of exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusion: Poor knowledge and inaccessibility to health facilities were the main obstacles to postnatal care while the practice of exclusive breastfeeding was limited by the stress and mothers refusal