CAESAREAN SECTION AS A RISK FACTOR FOR LACTATION INSUFFICIENCY AMONG BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS IN ZARIA, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

Breastfeeding is associated with benefits to lifelong health. Caesarean section as a mode of delivery is widely believed to affect breastfeeding adversely, but individual population studies examining the association between Caesarean section and breastfeeding are inconsistent. Some studies reported no association and others an inverse relation. The prevalence of Caesarian section in Zaria, Kaduna state, Nigeria, is 11.4%. A survey method was adopted for the study and questionnaires were given to 156 breastfeeding mothers and was divided equally between mothers who had vaginal delivery (V.D) and mothers who had Caesarean section (CS). This study examined the prevalence of lactation insufficiency, breastfeeding initiation, duration, and difficulties reported by mothers ≤ 6 months postpartum. Recorded data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) window version 20. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation (SD), frequencies and percentages) was used to characterize the sample and describe breastfeeding and delivery variables. The prevalence of lactation insufficiency in the breastfeeding mothers was 53.8% in CS versus 29.5% in VD. 80.8% of CS versus 7.7% of VD could not initiate breastfeeding during the first hour and had shorter breastfeeding sessions and general difficulty breastfeeding. 62.7% CS deliveries versus 37.3% of VD could not breastfeed exclusively for 6 months due to poor milk output.

In conclusion, Caesarian section is a risk factor for lactation insufficiency, it negatively affects the overall breastfeeding experience

Key words: Lactation, Insufficiency, Caesarian section, Breast-feeding