AWARENESS AND PERCEPTION ON EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING AS A BIRTH CONTROL METHOD AMONG WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE ATTENDING ANTENATAL CLINIC AT KAPKATET SUB COUNTY HOSPITAL

Abstract

Breastfeeding is defined as the process of feeding the infant or the baby the mother’s milk through the expressed breast milk, or direct nipple-baby mouth contact. Breast milk is usually categorized into two types; colostrum, and mature milk. Alongside being beneficial to the infant, Breastfeeding is useful to the mother as it is associated with increased uterine involution, fastening the healing of the uterus post-delivery. Its ability to alter the hormonal balance, makes it appropriate and acceptable globally for use as a contraceptive method. This is usually common as Lactational Amenorrhea method of contraception. Six months of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) (breast milk alone, no water, other drinks, or meals) is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), followed by two years of complementary breastfeeding. This research aims to learn more about how women of reproductive age visiting the prenatal clinic at Kapkatet Sub County Hospital feel about exclusive breastfeeding as a means of pregnancy control. Both cross-sectional and descriptive methods will be used in the research. Quantitative and qualitative information helpful in addressing research questions must be gathered. Questionnaires and interviews will be employed in data collection in this study, applying systematic sampling method. The data will then be tallied, compiled, and presented in the form of tables, percentages, pie charts, and bar graphs. In conclusion, the findings of this research will provide valuable insights into the perceptions and experiences of women of reproductive age regarding exclusive breastfeeding as a contraceptive method at Kapkatet Sub County Hospital.