Exploring factors that influence adherence to exclusive breast feeding among HIV positive mothers at Bwaila Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi
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Date
2018-02-01
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Abstract
Currently, there are over 39 million people living with HIV worldwide. The burden is high in the sub-Saharan Africa where there are over 11 million people living with HIV. Malawi is one of the countries with a high HIV prevalence rate, with 8.8% of the population living with HIV. The total number of people living with HIV in 2016 was 1,000 000 of which more than 50% of these were women of the childbearing age. Transmission of HIV from mother to infant during postpartum is a far much bigger problem because not a lot of interventions have focused on the transmission of HIV postnatally. The rate of HIV transmission during postpartum globally is estimated at 8.9% whereas in Malawi, it is estimated at 2.4% (Van de Perre, Kankasa, Nagot, Meda, & Tumwine, 2017; Gumede-Moyo, Filteau, Munthali, Todd, & Musonda, 2017).The aim of this study was to explore factors that influence adherence to exclusive breastfeeding among HIV-positive mothers, which is important in promoting exclusive breastfeeding which may reduce the rates of HIV transmission. Despite that mixed feeding practices in exposed infants have shown an increase in transmission rates of HIV, it has not been easy to adhere to exclusive breastfeeding as an infant feeding practice. The study used descriptive qualitative research method to explore factors influencing adherence to exclusive breastfeeding among HIV-positive mothers at Bwaila Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi. Purposively selected 15 HIV positive mothers with babies from 0-6 months of age were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. The data were analyzed manually using simple thematic analysis proposed by Braun & Clarke (2006). The results showed that knowledge of EBF, attitudes and perceptions towards EBF, availability of support from significant others, health facility influence, socioeconomic status and intention to protect are some of the factors that influence HIV positive women to adhere to EBF. In conclusion, there is need to intensify interventions that address several enabling factors, including; structural and social support, changing attitudes and subjective norms to provide the conditions conducive to EBF adherence.