Relationship Of Family Income, Support Of Health Workers And Mother's Knowledge By Giving Exclusive ASI In Indragiri Hulu Regency

Feb 27, 2025 by ADMIN 130 views

Relationship of Family Income, Support of Health Workers, and Mother's Knowledge by Giving Exclusive ASI in Indragiri Hulu Regency

Introduction

Exclusive breastfeeding is a crucial practice that provides numerous benefits to infants, including reduced infant mortality, improved growth and development, and enhanced overall health. In developed countries, exclusive breastfeeding is a common practice, and it is associated with low infant mortality rates and good health standards. However, in many developing countries, including Indonesia, exclusive breastfeeding rates are still low, and infant mortality rates remain high. This study aims to investigate the relationship between family income, support for health workers, and mother's knowledge on exclusive breastfeeding in Indragiri Hulu Regency, Indonesia.

Background

Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as the act of breastfeeding babies without providing additional food or liquids, except for water. This practice is essential for babies aged 0-6 months, as it provides them with the necessary nutrients and antibodies to support their growth and development. In Indonesia, exclusive breastfeeding rates are still low, with a national average of around 50%. This is a concern, as exclusive breastfeeding is a critical factor in reducing infant mortality rates.

Methodology

This study used a quantitative observational method with a cross-sectional design. The research sample consisted of 173 women who have babies aged 6-8 months. The data were collected using a questionnaire that assessed the mothers' knowledge, family income, and support for health workers. The data analysis was carried out using univariate analysis, bivariate analysis using the chi-square test, and multivariate analysis with multiple logistic regression.

Results

The results of this study showed that there was a significant relationship between family income and mother's knowledge with exclusive breastfeeding. However, no relationship was found between the support of health workers and exclusive breastfeeding. The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the mother's knowledge had a dominant effect on exclusive breastfeeding, with a value of Exp (β) = 5,778. This indicates that the higher the knowledge of a mother about exclusive breastfeeding, the more likely she is to give exclusive breastfeeding to her baby.

Discussion

The results of this study suggest that increasing education and awareness of exclusive breastfeeding benefits must be a priority in public health programs. In addition, collaborative efforts between health workers and families are needed to create an environment that supports mothers in providing exclusive breastfeeding. This will be a significant step in reducing infant mortality and improving overall public health.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of exclusive breastfeeding in reducing infant mortality rates and improving overall public health. The results of this study suggest that increasing education and awareness of exclusive breastfeeding benefits must be a priority in public health programs. In addition, collaborative efforts between health workers and families are needed to create an environment that supports mothers in providing exclusive breastfeeding.

Recommendations

Based on the results of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Increase education and awareness of exclusive breastfeeding benefits: Public health programs should prioritize increasing education and awareness of exclusive breastfeeding benefits among mothers and families.
Collaborative efforts between health workers and families: Collaborative efforts between health workers and families are needed to create an environment that supports mothers in providing exclusive breastfeeding.
Provide serious counseling regarding exclusive breastfeeding: Health workers should provide serious counseling regarding exclusive breastfeeding, starting from pregnancy to delivery.
Increase mothers' knowledge about exclusive breastfeeding: Increasing mothers' knowledge about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding is essential to motivate them to carry out the right breastfeeding practice.

Limitations

This study has several limitations, including:

Small sample size: The sample size of this study was relatively small, which may limit the generalizability of the results.
Cross-sectional design: The cross-sectional design of this study may not capture the temporal relationships between the variables.
Self-reported data: The data were self-reported, which may be subject to biases and errors.

Future Research Directions

Future research should aim to:

Investigate the relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and infant mortality rates: Further research is needed to investigate the relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and infant mortality rates.
Develop effective interventions to increase exclusive breastfeeding rates: Effective interventions should be developed to increase exclusive breastfeeding rates among mothers and families.
Investigate the role of health workers in promoting exclusive breastfeeding: The role of health workers in promoting exclusive breastfeeding should be investigated to identify effective strategies for increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates.

Conclusion

Q: What is exclusive breastfeeding, and why is it important?

A: Exclusive breastfeeding is the act of breastfeeding babies without providing additional food or liquids, except for water. It is essential for babies aged 0-6 months, as it provides them with the necessary nutrients and antibodies to support their growth and development.

Q: What are the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding?

A: The benefits of exclusive breastfeeding include reduced infant mortality rates, improved growth and development, and enhanced overall health. Exclusive breastfeeding also helps to reduce the risk of respiratory tract infections, diarrhea, and other diseases.

Q: What is the relationship between family income and exclusive breastfeeding?

A: The results of this study showed that there was a significant relationship between family income and exclusive breastfeeding. Mothers from higher-income families were more likely to practice exclusive breastfeeding.

Q: What is the relationship between support of health workers and exclusive breastfeeding?

A: The results of this study showed that there was no significant relationship between support of health workers and exclusive breastfeeding. However, health workers can play a crucial role in promoting exclusive breastfeeding by providing education and support to mothers.

Q: What is the role of mother's knowledge in exclusive breastfeeding?

A: The results of this study showed that mother's knowledge had a dominant effect on exclusive breastfeeding. Mothers who had a higher level of knowledge about exclusive breastfeeding were more likely to practice it.

Q: How can health workers promote exclusive breastfeeding?

A: Health workers can promote exclusive breastfeeding by providing education and support to mothers, starting from pregnancy to delivery. They can also provide counseling and guidance on how to breastfeed correctly and how to overcome common breastfeeding challenges.

Q: What are the recommendations for increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates?

A: The recommendations for increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates include:

Increase education and awareness of exclusive breastfeeding benefits: Public health programs should prioritize increasing education and awareness of exclusive breastfeeding benefits among mothers and families.
Collaborative efforts between health workers and families: Collaborative efforts between health workers and families are needed to create an environment that supports mothers in providing exclusive breastfeeding.
Provide serious counseling regarding exclusive breastfeeding: Health workers should provide serious counseling regarding exclusive breastfeeding, starting from pregnancy to delivery.
Increase mothers' knowledge about exclusive breastfeeding: Increasing mothers' knowledge about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding is essential to motivate them to carry out the right breastfeeding practice.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: The limitations of this study include:

Small sample size: The sample size of this study was relatively small, which may limit the generalizability of the results.
Cross-sectional design: The cross-sectional design of this study may not capture the temporal relationships between the variables.
Self-reported data: The data were self-reported, which may be subject to biases and errors.

Q: What are the future research directions?

A: Future research should aim to:

Investigate the relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and infant mortality rates: Further research is needed to investigate the relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and infant mortality rates.
Develop effective interventions to increase exclusive breastfeeding rates: Effective interventions should be developed to increase exclusive breastfeeding rates among mothers and families.
Investigate the role of health workers in promoting exclusive breastfeeding: The role of health workers in promoting exclusive breastfeeding should be investigated to identify effective strategies for increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates.

Q: What is the conclusion of this study?

A: In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of exclusive breastfeeding in reducing infant mortality rates and improving overall public health. The results of this study suggest that increasing education and awareness of exclusive breastfeeding benefits must be a priority in public health programs. In addition, collaborative efforts between health workers and families are needed to create an environment that supports mothers in providing exclusive breastfeeding.