KNOWLEDGE AND UTILIZATIONOF BREAST-MILK AS AN INFANT FEEDING OPTION AMONG HIV-INFECTED MOTHERS WITH WESTERN AND NON-WESTERN EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND IN KANO METROPOLIS

Abstract

The study investigated the knowledge and utilization of breast-milk as an infant feeding option among HIV-infected mothers with western and non-western educational backgrounds in Kano Metropolis with the view to preventing mother to child transmission of HIV. A self-developed questionnaire containing statements on knowledge and utilization of breast-milk was pilot tested and administered on 291 HIV-infected mothers attending Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) clinic in AKTH, Kano using a purposive sampling technique. Demographic data collected for this study were analyzed using frequency counts and percentage. Inferential statistics of t-test at 0.05 level of significance was used to test the hypotheses. The results obtained showed significant differences in the knowledge (t = 3.563, p<0.050) of breast-milk as an infant feeding option among HIV-infected mothers with western and non-western educational backgrounds. The result also revealed that significant differences did not exist in the utilization (t = 0.989, p>0.050) of breast-milk as an infant feeding option among HIV-infected mothers with western and non-western educational backgrounds in Kano Metropolis. It was recommended among others that health personnel should intensify more enlightenment campaign on the knowledge in order to influence the utilization of breast-milk as an infant-feeding option among HIV-infected mothers in Kano Metropolis.