1

INTRODUCTION

Breastfeeding is the natural next step to pregnancy and childbirth. It is one

of the most natural and beneficial acts a mother can do for her child. Dramatic

health benefits have been proven to pass from mother to child through breast

milk. From antibodies which protect an infant at birth to the exclusive nutrients in

mother’s milk which have been shown to prevent a number of childhood disease,

the benefits are incalculable. There is no other single action by which a mother

can so impact the present and future health of her baby. Breastfeeding creates

superior attachment between mother and child, and meets baby's every security,

affection and physical contact need. This bond is difficult to describe, but it is

nevertheless extraordinarily strong, complex and essential to the development of

this new little human being. The benefits of breastfeeding for mother and baby

start from day one. Breastfeeding is a cost effective way of feeding an infant,

providing the best nourishment for a child at a small nutrient cost to the mother.

Frequent and exclusive breastfeeding can delay the return of fertility through

lactational amenorrhea, though breastfeeding is an imperfect means of birth

control. During breastfeeding beneficial hormones are released into the mother's

body and the maternal bond can be strengthened. Breastfeeding is possible

throughout pregnancy, but generally milk production will be reduced at some

point.1 A women’s decision about how to nourish her infant occurs long before

conception or birth. Variables affecting this decision often include her

environment, interpersonal interactions, culture, family, past experiences, age,

1
Benefits of Breastfeeding,Ten steps to successful breastfeeding, http://www.tensteps.org/benefits-of-
breastfeeding.shtml
Date retrieved: November 20, 2019
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confidence, and social circles or peer groups. The significant benefits of

breastfeeding suggest the need for stronger support and education during the

prenatal and immediate postpartum periods to increase breastfeeding initiation

rates and continuation of breastfeeding after hospital discharge. Providing

support is an essential part of services necessary for expectant and new mothers

who face multiple barriers to breastfeeding initiation and at risk of early

breastfeeding cessation (Kornides & Kitsantas, 2015). 2 It’s a big must that the

infant gets the first milk that comes out of the mother’s breast, which is called

colostrum, since this is filled with immune-system-boosting antibodies and other

nutrients. Colostrum is actually a form of milk produced by the mammary glands of

all mammals (including humans) in late pregnancy. It contains antibodies to protect

the newborn against various diseases. Newborns generally have very immature

digestive systems, and colostrum delivers its nutrients in a very concentrated low-

volume form. Because of its mild laxative effect, it helps pass the baby’s first stool,

called meconium. Ideally, babies should be breastfed exclusively for the first six

months, according to pediatricians. When the baby is tried on some foods after six

months, mothers are still encouraged to continue to breastfeed until the baby is at

least a year old, and as long after that as both mother and child are willing.

Newborns generally have very immature digestive systems, and colostrum delivers

its nutrients in a very concentrated low-volume form. Because of its mild laxative

effect, it helps pass the baby’s first stool, called meconium. Ideally, babies should

be breastfed exclusively for the first six months, according to pediatricians. When

the baby is tried on some foods after six months, mothers are still encouraged to

2
Breastfeeding-unicef, https://www.unicef.org/pacificislands/breastfeeding_best_start_for_you_baby_web.pdf
Date retrieved: October 21, 2019
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continue to breastfeed until the baby is at least a year old, and as long after that as

both mother and child are willing.3 The number we must look at when evaluating

the practice of breastfeeding in the country is not how many mothers start

breastfeeding, but how many persist in breastfeeding for at least up to six months

after childbirth. For too many mothers, breastfeeding is fraught with difficulties and

complications, despite the efforts of hospital staff to get women to initiate taking

their babies to breast and dropping in to check on the progress of this feeding

practice. But once mother and baby come home, and facing such issues as lack of

sleep, lack of self-confidence, anxiety about the baby’s welfare, and especially

returning to work after maternity leave many mothers turn to the bottle instead.

This is the reason the Philippines reports a “low” 34 percent of infants under six

months who are breastfed exclusively. Recently, the Unicef and the World Health

Organization jointly urged the government to increase national investments to raise

breastfeeding rates, underlining the need to increase overall government spending

on health and nutrition.4 The World Health Organization (WHO) has

recommended continuing exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of

birth and introducing complementary food from six months old up to the end of

two years of age. Meanwhile, to prevent death of children of less than five years

old, WHO suggests all countries to achieve 90% exclusive breastfeeding.5

3
Castillo, Rafael, Healthier, more intelligent babies with breastfeeding, Philippine Daily Inquirer, November 23, 2019,
https://business.inquirer.net/215323/healthier-more-intelligent-babies-with-breastfeeding.
Date retrieved: October 21, 2019
4
Jimenez-David Rina, Breastfeed and save both your lives, AT LARGE, August 30, 2017,
https://opinion.inquirer.net/106735/breastfeed-save-lives
Date retrieved: October 21, 2019
5
Pakpour A, Alijanzadeh M, et al, Predictive Factors Associated with Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration Behaviors of 6-
months Postpartum Mothers Referred to Health Centers in the City of Qazvin Based on Theory of Planned Behavior.
Iranian Journal of Health Education and Health Promotion. 2016, http://jmrh.mums.ac.ir/article_12573.html
Date retrieved: September 15, 2019
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The setting of this study is in San Isidro Village Virac, Catanduanes.

Barangay San Isidro Village is located at 13º34’40.04” North longitude and

124º12’52.54” East latitude with a total land area of 235.5003 ha. San Isidro

Village is 2 kms. from the center of the capital town the Municipal Hall. It is the

most populated barangay in the municipality of Virac, Catanduanes with a

projected population of 5,121 as of 2019 and have nine hundred eighty four (984)

numbers of household. The population becoming bigger and bigger and mostly

living here in the barangay are informal settlers. The barangay did not have an

existing Purok numbering. You can see Figure 1 below which is the vicinity map

of San Isidro Village Virac, Catanduanes.

Figure 1- San Isidro Village vicinity map

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We conducted this study in order to assess primigravida mother’s

knowledge and attitudes towards breastfeeding. This study utilized interview and

survey questionnaire is to be given to primigravida mothers to know their insights

towards breastfeeding. Confidentiality of the data that were obtained from the

respondents.

The following research questions guided the study: What is the level of

knowledge, attitude of the primigravida mothers in breastfeeding? What are the

problems encountered by the primigravida mothers along breastfeeding with

regards to; maternal health status, lack of knowledge about the breastfeeding

benefits; lack of support from health care providers? And what are the

recommended measures to promote breastfeeding exclusively?

This study aimed to assess the breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes

among primigravida mothers in San Isidro Village Virac, Catanduanes and the

recommended measures to promote breastfeeding exclusively up to six months.

The findings of this study will provide benefits to the following:

Respondents - This study may encourage mothers to choose

breastfeeding as an appropriate feeding method for their infants. Also, it clarifies

factors that affects the practice of breastfeeding among mothers.

Infants – This study will be of great benefit to infants as breastfeeding can

reduce infant’s mortality and can provide all the necessary nutrients that they

need.

Health Care Providers – This study will guide healthcare providers to

promote and support breastfeeding. Especially those healthcare providers who

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works in community health clinics, health centers and those who are also in

private practice, as they are the ones who initiates and assist in helping

primigravida mothers sustain and maintain the act of exclusive breastfeeding.

Department of Health- The result of this study can be used to strengthen

future development of healthcare delivery system. This will guide the agency in

assessing the level of knowledge, attitude and be aware of the factors affecting

the practice of continuous and exclusive breastfeeding of primigravida mothers in

Virac, Catanduanes.

Local Government Unit- The result of this study will provide information

and baseline data about the response of primigravida mothers on the awareness

towards exclusive breastfeeding in their municipality as they go hand in hand

together with the Department of Health in strengthening future development in

the healthcare delivery system.

Researchers- This study will be a tool ground for researchers where they

could apply their knowledge and perspectives to their future study and research.

Future Researchers - This present study will guide them in conducting

their research study. This study could serve as one of their references.

The general intent of this study is to assess primigravida mothers whether

student, working or not working or out of school youth who are exclusively breast

feeding and are willing to participate on breastfeeding knowledge, attitude and

identify its barriers for exclusive breastfeeding. We conducted a survey through

home visits every Saturday and Sunday with the help of Barangay Health

Workers of San Isidro Village.

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This study excluded mothers who were busy and did not want to keep

waiting may have left out many significant participants. Also it did not include the

mentally challenged mothers, woman age less than 15 years and more than 35

years who had obstetrical or medical complications. The time frame for

completing this study was from November 2019 to February 2020. Only those

variables mentioned in the statement of the problem were considered in this

study.

This chapter discussed related information and the other studies

conducted by other researchers. It is also concern with the differences and

similarities between the previous and present study, theoretical and conceptual

framework that would picture out the study. Several researchers indicated breast

milk was the optimal source of nourishment in infancy (Di Manno et al., 2015;

Khan et al., 2015). A mother’s milk provides the optimal amount of antibodies

and nutrients needed for her infant to thrive (Di Manno et al., 2015).6

6
Bouknight-Gant, Joyce, "Effectiveness of Early Postpartum Follow-up on Breastfeeding Attrition" (2018). Doctor of
Nursing Practice(DNP) Translational and Clinical Research Projects. 31., https://kb.gcsu.edu/dnp/31
Date retrieved: September 18, 2019

Full breastfeeding is breastfeeding either exclusively or predominantly. Exclusive

breastfeeding means giving a baby no other food or drink, including water; in

addition to breast milk (medicines and vitamin and minerals drops are permitted).

On the other hand, partial breastfeeding includes other feeding methods in

addition to breastfeeding (i.e. bottle, cup) regardless of content. (WHO, 2017).

Breastfeeding, initiated within the first hour of birth, provided exclusively for six
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months, and continued up to two years or beyond with the provision of safe and

appropriate complementary foods, is one of the most powerful practices for

promoting child survival and wellbeing. Improving breastfeeding rates around the

world could save the lives of more than 820,000 children under age 5 every year,

the majority (87 percent) under 6 months of age. In addition to improving child

survival and protecting against life-threatening and chronic illnesses,

breastfeeding promotes healthy growth and boosts early child development.

Breastfeeding supports healthy brain development, and is associated with higher

performance in intelligence tests among children and adolescents across all

income levels. But breastfeeding is not just good for babies; it is good for

mothers as well. Indeed, breastfeeding has been shown to protect against post-

partum hemorrhage, postpartum depression, ovarian and breast cancer, heart

disease and type 2 diabetes. It is estimated that improving breastfeeding rates

could prevent an additional 20,000 maternal deaths from breast cancer. In short,

breastfeeding is among the most effective ways to protect maternal and child

health and promote healthy growth and optimal development in early childhood. 7

7
Victora C. G. et al., Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. Lancet 2016; 387:
475–90.
Studies conducted in Mizan Aman town, South West Ethopia to assess

knowledge, attitude and practice towards breastfeeding mothers which showed

that out of mothers, 205 (73%) stated that EBF was better than artificial feeds,

most mothers 281 (89.5%) preferred to feed their children only breast milk,

59.3% agreed that EBF is enough up to six months of age, 59.6% (187) did not

feel comfortable when they gave extra foods other than the breast, and

(182;58.0%) agreed that exclusively breastfed children are healthier than non-
 9

exclusively breastfed children.8 In Africa, more than 95% of infants are currently

breastfed, but feeding practices are often inadequate; feeding water and other

liquids to breastfed infants is a widespread practice. The risk of morbidity is

reduced by close to 70% when a child is exclusively breastfed. Exclusive breast

feeding protected against serious morbidities in the first six months of life.

Research conducted at Ibadan, Nigeria, revealed that prevalence of mothers’

knowledge towards EBF is still low, which accounts for about 36.2% and the

same thing is true in Ethiopia, where it accounts for about 34.7%.9 A new

international study has found that breastfeeding for just two months cuts a baby’s

risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) almost in half. Carried out by the

University Of Virginia School Of Medicine, the research looked at eight major

international studies that examined 2,259 cases of SIDS and 6,894 control

infants where death did not occur. The results showed that breastfeeding for just

8
Habta Tadele N, Deges F, Akmel D, E. Knowledge, attitude and practice towards exclusive breastfeeding among
lactating mothers in Mizan Aman town, South-Western Ethiopia: Descriptive cross-sectional study. International
Breastfeeding Journal. 2016; 11: 3.
9
Alamirew,Mulugeta Wassie,Bayu, Netsanet Habte, et al., Knowledge and Attitude towards Exclusive Breast Feeding
among Mothers Attending Antenatal and Immunization Clinic at Dabat Health Center, Northwest Ethiopia: A Cross-
Sectional Institution Based Study, https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/6561028.
Date retrieved: November 23, 2019
two months reduces the risk of SIDS by almost half, and the longer babies are

breastfed the greater the protection. Breastfeeding for less than two months did

not offer such a benefit. Another important finding from the study showed that

both partial and exclusive breastfeeding reduces the risk of SIDS, which could

come as good news for women who can’t or choose not to rely solely on

breastfeeding.10 Analysis of data from 123 countries shows that around the world

most babies are breastfed at some point in their lives, with 95 percent of babies
 10

ever receiving breast milk. However, this rate varies widely between low- and

middle-income and high-income countries. In low- and middle-income countries,

just 4 percent, or 1 in 25 babies, are never breastfed. In high-income countries,

21 percent of babies, or more than 1 in 5, never receive breast milk. Among high-

income countries, there are wide variations in the proportions of babies who are

breastfed. In some countries, such as Oman, Sweden and Uruguay, almost all

babies are breastfed but in others, rates are far lower: In the USA, 74 percent of

babies ever receive breast milk; in Ireland, just 55 percent are breastfed. 11

However, the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development Goals adopted by UN

aims at boosting exclusive breastfeeding practices to 50%.12 In Philippines, for

the last two decades, child mortality has decreased considerably, but close to 7

million children under five years of age still die each year, mainly from

preventable causes. Of those, newborn deaths now represent nearly half of all

10
AFP Relaxnews,Breastfeeding for two months cuts risk of sudden infant death syndrome in half, says study, Lifestyle
INQ, November 01, 2017,https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/277535/breastfeeding-for-two-months-cuts-risk-of-
sudden-infant-death-syndrome-in-half-says-study/
Date retrieved: October 21, 2019
11
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development about Breastfeeding and Breast
Milk, https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/breastfeeding/conditioninfo
Date retrieved: October 20, 2019
12
United Nations. Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development: sustainable development \
knowledge platform. United Nations. 2015, https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/ transformingourworld
Date retrieved: September 18, 2019
child deaths under five years. Immediate breastfeeding – putting the baby to the

mother’s breast within an hour after birth – would significantly reduce neonatal

mortality. Breastfeeding is the foundation of good nutrition and protects children

against disease. In this way, breastfeeding allows all children to thrive and

develop to their full potential. Yet, less than half of the world’s newborns benefit

from early breastfeeding and even fewer are exclusively breastfed for the first six

months. Optimal breastfeeding of infants under two years of age has the greatest
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potential impact on child survival of all preventive interventions, with the potential

to prevent over 800,000 deaths (13 percent of all deaths) in children under five in

the developing world (Lancet 2016). Poor government policies, lack of

community support and an aggressive formula milk industry mean breastfeeding

is not as widespread as it could be. (Lancet, 2015).13 “The Global Breastfeeding

Scorecard,” which evaluated 194 nations with the Global Breastfeeding Collective,

found just 40 percent of children younger than six months globally are breastfed

exclusively. Only 23 countries have achieved exclusive breastfeeding rates above

60 percent. The same study shows that an annual investment of only $4.70 per

new born is required to increase the global rate of exclusive breastfeeding among

children under six months to 50 percent by 2025. “Breastfeeding gives babies the

best possible start in life,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-

general of WHO (2018) “Breastmilk works like a baby’s first vaccine, protecting

infants from potentially deadly diseases and giving them all the nourishment they

need to survive and thrive.” The low rate of breastfeeding here is linked to the

13
Hodal, Kate, Breastfeeding could prevent 800,000 child deaths, Lancet says, Support the guardian, January 28, 2016,
https://www.theguardian.com/globaldevelopment/2016/jan/28/breastfeeding- could-prevent-800000-child deaths
lancet-says
Date retrieved: October 11, 2019

“critical” state of malnutrition and undernutrition among Filipino children

(UNICEF;WHO, 2015). In 2015, around 2.8 million Filipino children under 2 years

of age were undernourished due to “sub-optimal breastfeeding practices.” As a

result, around 7,500 Filipino children under 2 years of age die annually due to

under nutrition resulting from inadequate breastfeeding practice.4 The World Health

Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund recommend that children be

given breast milk within the first hour of birth and be exclusively breastfed for their
 12

first six months. Globally however, three in five babies are not breastfed early,

putting them at higher risk of death and disease (WHO, UNICEF, 2015) Twenty-

seven children out of every thousand died before the age of five in the Philippines

in 2016 (WHO, 2015).14 In a research study of Save the Children Philippines, it

cited the decline in breastfeeding practice due to the lack of skilled health

workers in maternity clinics in the communities. The study also noted rampant

violations of the Philippine Milk Code or Executive Order 51, National Code of

Marketing Breast Milk Supplements and Other Products that prohibits the

promotion of milk products as breastmilk substitutes. It also blamed aggressive

promotions of giant manufacturers of breastmilk substitutes or milk formula

targeting mothers and putting health claims in the packaging that misinform the

public that the benefits of breastmilk can be gained from infant formula. The

study noted that there are still milk companies that sponsor trips and conventions

of doctors and health workers to encourage them to promote milk products to

mothers of infants and young children.15

14
Nation, Todays Paper, Hundreds of Filipino moms in show of support for breastfeeding, August 05, 2018,
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1017886/hundreds-of-filipino-moms-in-show-of-support-for-breastfeeding
Date retrieved: December 2, 2019
15
REPORT, Save the Children, Published on 06 Aug 2019, https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/save-children-philippines-
mothers-breastfeed-infants-exclusively-first-6-months
Date retrieved: December 2, 2019

Although several studies have been conducted in exclusive breastfeeding

knowledge and attitudes still no study attempted to find out the exclusive

breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes of primigravida mothers in San Isidro

Village Virac Catanduanes. No study had been made similar to this present

study. Most lactating mother was not able to identify the importance of

breastfeeding for them to comply it properly with the best nutrition for their

infants. This study is conducted to assess the knowledge and attitudes of

primigravida mothers for them to understand the importance, purpose and

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meaning of breastfeeding the infants. Thus, the researcher assumed that this

study will be the first to be conducted in San Isidro Village Virac, Catanduanes.

This research was based on the theory of Planned Behavior. The theory

was derived from the theory of reasoned action, which postulates that subjective

norms and behavioral attitudes determine individual behavioral intentions, and

the latter determines individual behavior. Furthermore, individual behavioral

intentions are also affected by individual capacity, or ‘perception behavioral

controls’. The inclusion of perceived behavioral control led to the formalization of

the theory of planned behavior. In theory, subjective norms mainly refer to the

influence of important people or organizations on individual behavior. Behavioral

attitude refers to an individual's positive or negative feelings towards the

behavior, and perceived behavioral control refers to the degree of difficulty

associated with performance of the behavior. Figure 2 provides a graphical

representation of Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as applied to parental

involvement in breastfeeding.16
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Figure 2. Theoretical Paradigm of the Study

According to the theory, individual behavior is positively influenced by

individual behavior intention, which in turn is positively influenced by subjective

norms, perceived behavioral control and behavior attitudes. According to the

Theory of planned behaviour (Ajzen, 2015), antecedents of intention and actual

behaviour are subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and attitudes

towards that behaviour, which in turn are based on underlying beliefs on

advantages and disadvantages of the behaviour. Identifying the parent’s attitudes

and their beliefs could help to improve breastfeeding practices. The knowledge

affects ones attitudes which leads to change of behavior. Behavioural intention

16
Xin, Zhang, Liang, Ma. et al, Psychosocial factors influencing shared bicycle travel choices among Chinese: An
application of theory planned behavior, January 25, 2019,
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0210964
Date retrieved: September 15, 2019
is a direct predictor of behaviour while one’s attitude to the behaviour, subjective

norms and perceived behaviour control are predictors of intention. However,

attitude can also directly influence behaviour. Knowledge affects the attitudes

and perceived behaviour control (Vaarno, 2016).17 Benefits of breastfeeding

seem to be well known, but positive attitudes towards breastfeeding are needed

for successful outcomes in infant feeding.

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Attitude on
breastfeeding

EBF knowledge and

Behavior attitude of
Knowledge primigravida mothers
intention in San Isidro Village
Virac Catanduanes

Advantage and
Disadvantages
of Exclusive
Breastfeeding

Figure 3. Conceptual Paradigm of the Study

17
https://www.nestlenutrition-institute.org/country/za/news/article/2017/06/12/factors-influencing-parental-involvement-
in-infant-and-young-child-feeding-(part-4)
Date retrieved: September 15, 2019

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Exclusive breastfeeding/Optimal breastfeeding

Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as no other food or drink, not even water,

except breast milk (including milk expressed or from a wet nurse) for six months

of life, but allows the infant to receive ORS, drops and syrups (vitamins, minerals

and medicines).
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Primigravida - a woman who is pregnant for the first time or has been pregnant

one time.

Colostrum - a thick milk that is clear and colorless or yellowish.

Knowledge- facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through

experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject.

Attitude- a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something,

typically one that is reflected in a person's behavior.

Behavior- the way in which one acts or conducts oneself, especially toward

others.

Advantages of Breastfeeding- It provides natural antibodies to combat ear and

other infections; It’s easier to digest for the baby than formula milk; hence, it

causes less gassiness or intestinal colic in the babies; It may help reduce the risk

of sudden infant death syndrome in the first year of the baby’s life; It may also help

develop the child’s intelligence, based on studies showing higher levels of

cognitive function in breastfed babies; Breast milk may even help reduce the

baby’s risk of subsequently being overweight or obese; of developing asthma, type

1 and type 2 diabetes; or of having high cholesterol, Hodgkin’s disease, leukemia

and lymphoma. Mothers can also benefit from breastfeeding their babies.

Disadvantages of Breastfeeding- For infants, not being breastfed is associated

with an increased incidence of infectious morbidity, as well as elevated risks of

childhood obesity, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, leukemia, and sudden infant death

syndrome. For mothers, failure to breastfeed is associated with an increased

incidence of premenopausal breast cancer, ovarian cancer, retained gestational

 17

weight gain, type 2 diabetes, myocardial infarction, and the metabolic syndrome.

Our Lady’s Village, Virac- The most populated barangay in Virac, Catanduanes

where the study was conducted.

Elementary Undergraduate- are those who haven’t completed the primary level

of education.

Elementary Graduate- are those students who finished grade 6 or primary level

of education.

High School Undergraduate- a student who haven’t completed the secondary

level of education.

High School Graduate- a student who graduated from secondary level of

education.

College Undergraduate- a college or university student who graduated from

high school and have been accepted to college, but they haven’t graduated yet

or those who not yet received a first degree.

College Graduate- is someone who has earned a bachelor's degree from

college or university

Single Parent- someone who is raising a child on their own maybe widowed,

divorced, or unmarried.

Working- have a job, usually one which they are paid to do.

Not working- not employed for a salary, fees, or wages; not producing or

generating income
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METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the methodology, the design of the study, the

respondents of the study, the instrument that was used in the study, the data

gathering procedure and the statistical data treatment utilized in order to bring

clarity and understanding of the study. All of these enables the realization of the

goals of this study.

In carrying out the investigation, the researcher made use of descriptive

survey type of research. The purpose of descriptive studies was to observe,

describe and document aspects of a situation as it naturally occurs and

sometimes to serve as a starting point for hypothesis generation or theory

development. The descriptive type furnishes well classified information and

stimulates better presentation of data. The present study is a descriptive one

because it describes and presents the level of knowledge and attitudes of

primigravida mothers.

The respondents were primigravida mothers aged 15-35 whether married

or not, working or not working student (out of school youth). We gathered the

data from the Target Client List Record of San Isidro Village Virac Catanduanes,

specifically those mothers who gave birth from January 2019 to August 2019

who ought to practice exclusive breastfeeding. Which yielded us to those 35

respondents of this study. They were interviewed to know their level of

understanding, attitudes and what those factors that hinders them from exclusive

breastfeeding.
 19

The data gathering tool which was used in this study was a

questionnaire, which serves as our main instrument to have an accurate data

needed for the study. Our questionnaire was design to ask for data on the level

of understanding on exclusive breastfeeding. Ethically speaking, the answers of

the respondents were treated privately and confidentially.

The questionnaire was composed of three parts to elicit credible and relevant

information regarding the study. Part I deals with the profile of the respondents in

terms of educational attainment, marital status and working status; Part II deals

with the level of knowledge and attitude of breastfeeding using the Likert scale.

The scale range were from 1 and 2, where 1 represents that the respondent has

agreed with the particular statement and 2 if the respondent disagreed with the

said statement. Part III talks about the problems encountered by a primigravida

mother in practicing exclusive breastfeeding in which the respondent has to put a

check mark on the problem(s) that they encountered in practicing continuous

breastfeeding.

Before administering the questionnaire the researchers secured a letter

from the Dean of the College of Midwifery and the researchers pays courtesy call

to the Mayor, Municipal Health Officer and Brgy. Captain. Upon approval, the

researchers proceed to the area with the help of SIV’s Barangay Health Workers.

The researchers inform them the purpose of the research. They were given

copies of the questionnaire and the researchers instructed them the directions on

how to answer it. The researchers stayed while the respondents were answering
 20

the said questionnaire, to be able to clarify any unclear statements for them in

the questionnaire. The researchers also translated the statements in the

questionnaire to bicol or tagalog dialect for them to fully understand. Researchers

was also aware that respondent’s identification can affect their honesty and

effectiveness in answering, that’s why the researchers gave the respondents the

option of being anonymous or the freedom of not revealing their respective

names. The respondents were given enough time to answer, and the researchers

collected the questionnaires right after they finished answering. After the

administration of the questionnaires, the data gathered were collated and

subjected to statistical analyses. Confidentiality of the data were assured to the

respondents.

These statistical methods used to treat the gathered data.

Percentage Technique. This had been used in computing the demographic

profile of postpartum mothers in terms of educational attainment, civil and

employment status. And we also used this in the level of knowledge, attitude,

problems encountered of primigravida mothers in breastfeeding.