ABSTRACT
The research identified motherhood practices among literate and illiterate mothers in Obantoko Area, a case study of Odeda Local Government area of Ogun State. To guide the study, nine research questions were formulated, some of them are:
1. In what ways do these mothers take care of themselves when they are pregnant?
2. In what ways do these mothers handle children who do not eat well?
3. In what ways do these mothers contend with children when they are not giving weight?
4. From where do these mothers get information about motherhood practices?
Various motherhood practices and education of mothers were discussed, the study also reflected on the misconception about diseases and illness of children. And various means of promoting motherhood practice programme. Structure questionnaire was the major instrument for data collection. Among the major findings of the study were:
5. Majority of the mothers studies, had between three and four children.
6. Majority registered in approved health institution as soon as they were pregnant.
7. Many of the mothers de
8. worm their children from time to time.
9. Majority of the mothers consult elderly women when children do not eat well
Based on these findings, recommendations were made. Some of the recommendations were:
10. Radio and television facilities should be used to educate those mothers on motherhood practices.
11. Mothers should be encouraged to use exclusive breast feeding methods.
12. Most health posts and maturity homes should be built in out rural communities.
Midwives and community nurses should educate mothers during ante-natal and post natal clinic.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Proper motherhood education (i.e. Orientation) especially for young married couples that just got married is one of the most pressing problems facing Nigeria today.
Motherhood practice is very important in our socio-culture aspect of life and also to nurture and raise a good woman whose intelligent quotient is very high and crucial. Thus they are the foundation upon which a verile and developed nation can be built. For mothers to properly lay sound foundation and build a nation, they must be well cared for.
The quality of early motherhood education determines to a great extent, the later life of a child and entire household. It is believed that most of the early birth communicable disease generate from improper diet and dug intake. Turner (1991:32) stated that the major cause of infant morbidity and mortality is as a result of improper care and suggested that this can be controlled through intelligent care of mothers and infants. There is need for proper motherhood practice if the normal development of the child is to ensured.
Motherhood practices and child care are dunce task (i.e. slow learning). It starts with conception and end with childhood. Anyakoha (1999:9) describes motherhood as the art of motherhood: a) feeding, b) Wearing, c) Bathing , d) clothing, e) Medical care, f) Toilet training e.t.c. according to Spocklar (2001:185). It is usually most convenient in early month to give the bath before 10am feeding because the child will still sleep after eating. Some buttocks rashes are due to various causes such as improper washing of baby’s buttocks when they are soiled, leaving wet napkins especially under plastic through which the skin becomes saggy and the n breaks. Spung bath can be used for some week until the baby feels more secured or for some months until the baby can sit up. Tub bath is advised not to be given until the navel is healed. There are problem that arise from improper clothing.
Selman (1998:70) emphasized that in clothing the baby’s buttock and the external genital organs of the body should be covered. He further said that when they external genital organs and buttocks are exposed, bacteria, worms and eggs of round worm may penetrate the genital organ as well as the anus. Adequate feeding is very important in motherhood practices: Ross (1999:25) stated that under nourishment result in decreased growth rate as well as less maximum growth delays the maturation and cause early death. Orere (2002:8) posited that some mother feed their families with starchy foods only, without bearing in minds that a healthy family needs protein, starch (i.e. carbohydrate) vitamins, fats e.t.c. This can also cause sickness and result to death. Spocklari (1999:79) said that mother know a lot about diet. She is the one who know how many calaries her child need and what her digestion can handle. The best food for any infant is breast milk which is the mother’s milk, provided the infant mother is in good condition and on good diet.
Wearing is an essential aspect of motherhood practices through which a child is hastening with breast. If the wearing is abrupt or sudden, it can affect adversely the child’s sense of trust. Some of the diseases and ill health were associated with superstition. Adi (1997: prefare) children who died as a result of convulsion or tetanus are regarded as reincamated children “Abiku” e.g. it has been observed that children are left on the hand of house help and neighbors who can not properly take care, even in some house: helpers perform most of the house activities while the house wife only perform major marital obligation. Due to this they send their babies to day care centres untimely and from there the baby can easily contact diseases such as measules which is deadly. Some women do go to native doctors for help, especially when they are pregnant and nursing mothers too because they belief in superstition. The life of a child is challenge by the number of childhood diseases. There should be proper medical care from mothers to their children in order fro children to posses optimum health, prevention and control of motherhood and childhood diseases pose a great problem.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The level and quality of education given to any mother influence her motherhood practices. It is believed that most of the complication that arise from pregnancy and child birth can be trace to inexperience, ignorance and low level of education of mothers.
Turner (1998) observed that the major causes of infants morbidity and mortality can be control through intelligent cares by mothers continuing opined that when mothers are not properly taken care of during pregnancy, they tend to have complication during child birth.
Despite the medical provisions made available for pregnant mothers and their children. Infant and maternal mortality are still high in Nigeria.
This study therefore is to identify the motherhood practices adopted by literate and illiterate mothers in Obantoko, Odeda Local government area, Ogun State.
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The major purpose of the study is to identify motherhood practices adopted by literate and illiterate mothers in Obantoko, Odeda Local government area Ogun state.
Specific purpose of the study are:
To identify personal characteristic of literate and illiterate nursing and pregnant mothers who registered in three public health institution in Obantoko, Odeda Local Government area. To identify the motherhood practices adopted by mothers during pregnancy. to identify motherhood practices adopted by mothers after birth. To identify motherhood practices adopted by mothers when their children are not eating well. To identify motherhood practices adopted by mothers when their children are sick To identify motherhood practices adopted by mothers when their children are not gaining weight as expected after birth. To identify motherhood practices adopted by mothers when they want to wean their children. To identify the particular month mothers wean their children. To identify mothers means of getting information on motherhood practices.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION
The following research questions guided the study.
1. Personal characteristic of pregnant and nursing mothers who registered in three public health institutions from January 23rd to April 2012 in Obantoko, Odeda Local Government. Area Ogun State?
2. In what ways do these mothers take care of themselves to ensure successful pregnancy?
3. In what ways do the women ensure safely of mothers and child after child birth?
4. In what ways do the mothers take care to ensure survival of their children when the children are sick?
5. In what ways do these mothers contend with children who are not eating well or picking thing not good from the ground and eat white crawling?
6. In what ways do these mothers contend with situation in which their children are not gaining weight?
7. In what ways do these mothers wean their children when they are ripe to stop breast milk?
8. At what month do these mothers wean their children?
9. Where do these mothers get information on the development of motherhood practices.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
It is the hope of the research that the data of this study may help to locate areas of motherhood among literate and illiterate mothers in Obantoko, Odeda Local Government area Ogun State. It is expected that the findings of this study will be useful in the following area. The data of this study may be by health workers in the community clinic, motherless babies home e.t.c.
It will be useful to community extension workers both in rural and urban areas for proper education on motherhood effective among the literate and illiterates to modify and improve on their ways of motherhood practices. The data of this study will study will also necessitate the integration of motherhood practices into the school health schedule or programme so that girls who are mothers in the future will learn correct approach to motherhood and appreciate it before going into marriage.
The knowledge which mothers acquire from motherhood programmes may help to change their attitude or belief to ward some illness and to help promote the health standard of the mothers and their immediate family even in the general society. This also will enhance the need for mothers to become literate. If mother were literate, they will attend seminars; listen to radio and television programme, example treatment or control of diarrhea (frequent stooling) with the use of oral dehydrations therapy or salt sugar solution in the family.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This study is limited to mothers in Obantoko, Odeda Local Government area Ogun state with at least two children of which one should be within the age range of 0:3 years,. This restriction is made because mothers within this category from the focus of this study and are therefore deemed appropriate to furnish the necessary information required on this research work. This mother’s age range is between 25years and above. The study also pointed out some major problems of both literate and illiterate mothers and suggested ways of minimizing them.
In addition, the study ascertained the health care practices of both family and mothers in the larger society.
1.7 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
The following hypothesis will be tested in the causes of this study in Obantoko, Odeda Local Government area Ogun State.
1) There will be no significant change on mothers, if the motherhood practices are not based on mothers age range of 25years and above.
2) Mother should be encouraged to use exclusive breast feedings methods and also washed the nipple before breastfeeding.
3) There should be a health post and maternity homes in which the nurses or midwives will educate mothers during anti-natal and post natal clinic.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
At this juncture, It is necessary to clarify what some used terms in the study mean.
Assessment: It means to decide the amount or value of and estimate the worth or like hood of.
Motherhood: It means pearly substance lining shells of system and mussels .
Practices: It means action as opposed to theory custom repeated exercise to improved skill.
Literate: It means able to read and write.
Illiterate: It means unable to read and write, uneducated.
Mothers: Female parent
Dunce: It means person slow at leaning.
Weaning: It means accustom (a baby) to take food other than milk.
Hurry: It means act of moving with eagerness or too quickly.
Seminars: Small class for discussion and research.
Mobility: Able to move or be moved easily.
Mortality: Being mortal: loss of life on a large scale (i.e. death rate).