Kenyan Mothers Promote Breastfeeding
By Debbie DeVoeNGENGE, Kenya — Thirty Kenyan mothers dancing in rhythmic bobbing lines aren't just celebrating the arrival of visitors. They're also celebrating their very healthy children.
This mother has exclusively breastfed her children for their first six months since learning about the health benefits. Photo by Debbie DeVoe/CRS
Over the last three years, Catholic Relief Services has helped mothers in eastern Kenya form mother-to-mother support groups as part of a child survival project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. The results have been exceptional.
When the project started, none of the mothers were exclusively breastfeeding during their infants' first six months. Now two-thirds of the women in targeted communities are doing so. Although the USAID project ended in September 2007, CRS is using private donations to extend the project's success until longer-term funding can be identified.
"Mother-to-mother support groups spread best practices for breastfeeding and enhancing child nutrition across villages," explains George Okoth, child survival project manager for CRS Kenya. "The mothers encourage and learn from each other, creating a powerful support network that is significantly improving children's health."
Helping Children Thrive
In Kenya, 79 out of 1,000 children die before they reach 1 year of age, compared with 6 children per 1,000 in the United States, according to United Nations statistics. Studies show that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months can help reduce infant mortality rates because of antibodies and other immunity boosters naturally found in breast milk. Mortality rates can drop further if mothers continue breastfeeding until their children are 2 years old, introducing nutritious foods to complement the breastfeeding after the first six months.
"Breast milk is best for newborns, as it has all the nutrients," explains Florence Wanjiru, nurse-in-charge at the Rwika health dispensary in the Gachoka area. "These groups are really improving the health status of mothers and children by encouraging exclusive breastfeeding for six months and nothing else. After six months they start on weaning diets, and children's weights are [maintaining] well."
Support group leader Beth Nyaga demonstrates proper positioning for effective breastfeeding. Photo by Debbie DeVoe/CRS
Over the last three years, building on prior work in western Kenya, CRS brought its grass-roots approach for improving child nutrition to the rural Mbeere district in the east. Here, 65 percent of residents live below the poverty line, and low rainfall hampers crop production. To help children survive in these difficult circumstances, CRS assisted communities in forming 22 mother-to-mother support groups — forums where mothers can talk, share and learn together. Picture cards developed by CRS further stimulate discussion by explaining how mothers can give their children the most nutritious foods available from birth until 2 years of age.
Through these simple techniques, CRS has helped Kenyan mothers dramatically improve their children's health and weight. The project has seen a 66 percent increase in exclusive breastfeeding rates for infants during their first six months, a rate that significantly exceeds the country's national average increase of 13 percent.
This success has attracted the attention of the government of Kenya, which through its ministry of health adopted a CRS guideline for management of childhood illnesses in 2005. Now the health ministry is evaluating CRS' mother-to-mother approach to see how it might strengthen existing child health and nutrition initiatives.
A Mother's Touch
An important part of mother-to-mother support groups is enabling mothers to learn from each other and share their knowledge in ever-growing circles. In the Mbeere project, social workers supported by CRS' local partner, the Catholic Diocese of Embu, help communities form the groups, which are then led by trained volunteer community facilitators.
During monthly meetings, mothers get tips on breastfeeding — such as ideal positioning of their infants — and how to cook local foods for greatest nutritional value. A new mother is then asked to commit to feeding her infant only breast milk for the first six months. This isn't always easy, as mothers traditionally give infants other foods as well to appease "the monster in their bellies," said to make babies cry.
Mother-to-mother support groups provide members with health education, as well as friendship, community service opportunities and social activities. Photo by Debbie DeVoe/CRS
As other mothers see exclusively breastfed children gaining weight, they decide to give it a try. The meetings also enable community facilitators to refer children to local health centers if their weight drops or other concerns arise.
"When I exclusively breastfed, my baby grew up very well," explains Cisly Wambui, a member of the Mwereri Gachoka ("I Take Care of Myself in Gachoka") mother-to-mother support group. "I wasn't having to go to the health care center, so then I had more money for food."
"Buying food for this child is too expensive," Florence Wamiri, another group member, adds. "I'm now able to spend the money elsewhere."
Exclusive breastfeeding does take considerable time and requires mothers to stay close to home or carry their babies wherever they go. But the health and financial benefits far outweigh the cons, these mothers say. Most husbands and in-laws are also supportive, appreciating the improved health of the children even though mothers may have less time to help in fields and around the house.
"Some women say we're wasting time," adds Mwereri Gachoka group president and community facilitator Beth Nyaga. "But we know we're not wasting a minute."
Debbie DeVoe is CRS' regional information officer for East Africa. She is based in Nairobi and recently met with the Mwereri Gachoka mother-to-mother support group in Ngenge, Kenya.
