Assessment Of Knowledge Competency Needs Of Primiparous Mothers For Effective Infant Feeding In Enugu State, Nigeria

The study determined the assessment of knowledge competency needs of primiparous mothers for effective infant feeding in Enugu State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study identified knowledge required, possessed and needed by primiparous mothers for effective infant feeding to enable them become competent in infant feeding. The study was guided by three research questions. Descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population for the study was 2950 mothers who attended antenatal and postnatal care in health centers in Enugu state, with a sample size of 400 using purposive sampling. The instrument for data collection was structured questionnaire which were in two clusters of x and y denotating required and possessed competencies and the reliability coefficient of 0.87 was obtained for the study. Data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. The findings confirmed that massaging nipple in readiness to breastfeeding is required, early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth is required, breast milk stored in feeding bottles can be reconstituted and reused, and it is also required that mothers maintain eye contact with baby during breastfeeding among others. Lastly, findings shows that the need gap were positive indicating that those were the need gap in the formula and complementary knowledge competencies. Seventeen breastfeeding knowledge competencies were identified as highly required but inadequately possessed by primiparous mothers. Based on the findings of the study, recommendations were made which were .