BARRIERS AFFECTING THE UTILIZATION OF CONCEALED FASHIONABLE FASTENINGS GARMENTS FOR EFFECTIVE BREASTFEEDING AMONG LACTATING CAREER MOTHERS, DELTA STATE.

Abstract

The need to produce convenient garments for effective breastfeeding necessitated this study. The study investigated barriers affecting the utilization of concealed fashionable fastening garments for effective breastfeeding among lactating career mothers, Delta State. To address this, three specific purposes of the study were stated and three research questions were raised to guide the study while one hypothesis were formulated and tested at a 0. 05 level of significance. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The population of the study consists of one thousand two hundred and forty-two (1,242) lactating mothers who registered in Secondary Health Centers (Central hospitals) in Delta North Senatorial District, Delta State. The sample of this study was one hundred and fifty (150) lactating mothers drawn from the population. The multistage and pwposive sampling techniques were used to select the sample. The descriptive statistics of Mean and Standard deviation were used to answer the research questions; inferential statistics of two sampled independent t-test was used to test the hypotheses at a 0. 05 level of significance. The .findings also revealed the h????fluence ol psychological and emotional barriers on lactating career mothers to effective breasifeeding but the use of concealed fashionable fastening garments helps to reduce these barriers. The research concluded that the barriers faced by lactating career mothers during breasifeeding appear to discourage them from breasifeeding in the public and also jeopardize the health of these babies, but the production of concealed fashionable fastening garments for effective breasifeeding would help to reduce these barriers. Concealed fashionable fastening garments are therefore recommended for career lactating mothers to promote effective breasifeeding.