Abstract:
In Ghana, child nutrition and health are major public health and developmental
challenges. In this study, interpretivist and positivist paradigms were applied
to assess breastfeeding practices and risk of childhood morbidity. The GDHS
2014 data and in-depth interviews with mothers were used. Multivariate,
geospatial, and inductive analyses were employed to manage the data. The
study extracted 2202 respondents and engaged 20 participants. The
multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that protective effects of
breastfeeding practices against childhood morbidity disappear in the midst of
other risk factors. Risk factors accounting for this operated at the individual,
community, health, and environmental levels. Major hot spot districts for
breastfeeding practices were: Accra Metro (not breastfeeding); Daffiama
Bussie-Issa, Wa Municipality, Wa West, and Bolgatanga (exclusive);
Gushiegu (predominant); and Bawku West (partial). Hot spot districts for
childhood morbidity were: Savelugu-Nanton (diarrhoea); Accra Metro (ARI);
Zabzugu (anaemia); and Lawra, Jirapa, and East Mamprusi (fever). Key
challenges of breastfeeding practices were related to: household chores;
formal and informal work schedules; family influences; low breast milk
production; and swollen breasts or sore nipples. Childhood morbidity was
commonly attributed to primary teeth development and eating of cold foods.
To manage morbidity cases, most mothers preferred present their children at
hospitals or clinics. The Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service could
use channels such as radio and television to carry out more educative
programmes on breastfeeding practices, (noting potential risk factors) to
reduce episodes of childhood morbidity in the country.
