Correlation of Awareness and Perceived Compliance with Six-Month Exclusive Breastfeeding Among Teenage Mothers in a Government Hospital
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2026.251Keywords:
Exclusive breastfeeding, Teenage mothers, Government hospital, PhilippinesAbstract
Extensive research has consistently highlighted the significant advantages of breastfeeding for both mothers and infants. As a result, promoting exclusive breastfeeding has been a cornerstone of healthcare initiatives in Philippine government hospitals. This study assesses the perceived level of compliance among teenage mothers aged 15-19 who delivered at a government hospital in the Province of Misamis Oriental, Philippines. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research combines quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Survey participants included teenage mothers within the specified age range who gave birth at the hospital. The study also drew on interviews and documents from selected hospital staff to enrich and validate the findings. The study finds that many mothers struggle to initiate breastfeeding, highlighting the pivotal role of self-encouragement in fostering and sustaining this practice. Moreover, factors such as age, family income, and educational background significantly impact the likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding and its subsequent effects on infants. Specifically, older mothers with higher educational attainment and better financial resources demonstrate greater awareness and adherence to exclusive breastfeeding practices, underscoring the importance of education in promoting breastfeeding knowledge. Based on these findings, the study recommends strengthening awareness and adherence through breastfeeding advocacy efforts. These recommendations aim to address the identified challenges and create a more supportive environment for teenage mothers to embrace and sustain exclusive breastfeeding.
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