

Relationship of Knowledge and Father Support

with Exclusive Breastfeeding in Puskesmas

Pekan Labuhan Medan

Fitri Ardiani

and Ernawati Nasution

Department of Public Health Nutrition, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Keywords : Knowledge, Father Support, Exclusive Breastfeeding

Abstract : Exclusive breastfeeding aims to fulfill the infant's nutritional needs for optimal growth and development. The

purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of knowledge and support of father in exclusive

breastfeeding. This research was conducted in Puskesmas Pekan Labuhan working area. The research design

is cross-sectional study. The sample of this study as many as 50 respondents is father who has infants aged 6-

11 months obtained by using purposive sampling technique. The research instrument used was a questionnaire

consisting of father's knowledge questionnaire, father support and exclusive breastfeeding. The results showed

that there was a significant relationship between knowledge of the father and exclusive breast feeding (p

<0.05), and there was no significant relationship between father support and exclusive breastfeeding. Most

fathers (54%) had sufficient knowledge about exclusive breastfeeding and knowledge had a significant

association with exclusive breastfeeding (p <0.05). Likewise, good father support is expected to contribute to

exclusive breastfeeding.

1 INTRODUCTION

Golden period can be realized if in infancy given

appropriate nutrition for optimal growth and

development. The WHO recommendation is to

provide exclusive breastfeeding until the infant is 6

months old. Exclusive breastfeeding can provide

nutrients with the best quality and quantity for babies.

Breastfeeding also improves baby's health, baby's

intelligence and improves the connection of mother's

attachment with the baby (UNICEF, 2013).

Exclusive breastfeeding can also prevent infant

deaths caused by various diseases such as diarrhea

and respiratory infections that are the leading cause

of infant death in Indonesia (Roesli, 2008). Exclusive

breastfeeding is also included in the specific

intervention in activities or actions to succeed the first

1,000 days of life, which prioritizes the improvement

of the nutrition of Indonesian society (Kemenkes RI,

2009) (Kemenkes RI, 2013).

Based on data from the Health Profile of the

Republic of Indonesia for 3 consecutive years namely

the year 2012, 2013 and 2014 that the achievement of

Exclusive breastfeeding in Indonesia has increased

and decreased. Exclusive breastfeeding performance

in Indonesia in 2012 was at 48.62%, then increased in

2013 (54.3%). While in 2014, exclusive

breastfeeding in Indonesia decreased to 52,3%

(Kemenkes RI, 2013) (Kemenkes RI, 2015).

There are many factors related to the increase and

decrease of breastfeeding in Indonesia, including

socio-cultural change, psychological factors (in

determining decisions or attitudes of mothers

influenced by knowledge, family support and health

personnel. The role of the family, especially the father

in the success of breastfeeding is very large, because

with the direct participation of the father in

breastfeeding can provide a comfortable feeling of

mother and baby. Mother feel themselves supported,

loved, and cared for, generates positive energy that

will affect the production of oxytocin hormone to

increase milk production (Sunardi, 2008).

Decision to give exclusive breastfeeding is not

only determined by the mother. Most pregnant

women and nursing mothers who have been informed

about breastfeeding do not practice the knowledge

they get because they are not the primary decision

makers in the family. So, it still takes the husband's

decision in exclusive breastfeeding (Widodo, 2001).

Father's support is the most meaningful support

for mother. The father's active role in the success of

exclusive breastfeeding will contribute of milk let

804

Ardiani, F. and Nasution, E.

Relationship of Knowledge and Father Support with Exclusive Breastfeeding in Puskesmas Pekan Labuhan Medan.

DOI: 10.5220/0010091508040808

In Proceedings of the International Conference of Science, Technology, Engineering, Environmental and Ramiﬁcation Researches (ICOSTEERR 2018) - Research in Industry 4.0, pages

804-808

ISBN: 978-989-758-449-7



down reflex which is greatly influenced by emotional

support and practical help (Roesli, 2000).

Based on

(Wulandari's, 2009) study, the role of father has a

significant relationship to adherence in exclusive

breastfeeding as well as support of health personnel

and social support around the mother. Other studies

have also shown that the role of fathers influences

maternal factors in the selection of feeding types such

as exclusively breastfeeding or exclusive

breastfeeding (Nickerson, 2010). A form of support

that can be provided include attention, opportunity,

creation of an atmosphere that supports

breastfeeding, optimal nutrition for pregnant and

lactating women.

Achievement of Exclusive Breastfeeding

Program in Medan City in 2015 amounted to 40.1%

while the national target of 80%. While the

achievement of Exclusive ASI at Puskesmas Pekan

Labuhan Medan City equal to 41,1% (Profile of

Health Office of Medan City, 2016), it is seen that of

141 babies born there are 58 infants (41.1%) who get

Exclusive Breastfeeding. Based on the preliminary

survey, it was found that there were 5 mothers (50%)

who gave exclusive breastfeeding for infants aged 0-

6 months from 10 breastfeeding mothers and also

received support from their husbands in taking care

of their babies. Also, mother and father who have a

baby know that breast milk is the best food baby until

the age of 6 months. The association between father's

knowledge and support in exclusive breastfeeding

needs to be examined an attempt to increase the

achievement of Exclusive Breastfeeding coverage.

2 METHODS

This research design is descriptive research with cross

sectional approach that is research to study

correlation / correlation between independent

variable of research that is knowledge and support of

father with dependent variable of research that is

exclusive breast feeding at one time. The population

in this study were husbands / fathers who had infants

aged 6-11 months, considering population still

remembering Exclusive breastfeeding to giving to

their babies, which amounted to 50 people. The

sample in this study is the total population of 50

people.

Primary data were obtained through interviews

that included father's knowledge and support in

exclusive breastfeeding, as well as father

characteristics that included age, education,

occupation, income. While secondary data include

data of families who have infants aged 6-11 months.

Bivariate analysis was used to see the relationship

between independent and dependent variables by

using Chi-square test.

3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1 Characteristics of Father

Based on the result of research known fathers’

characteristics data consist of age, education, income,

and occupation. Most fathers are 20-30 years,

educated high school, and as a laborer. Data of

father's characteristics can be seen in the following

table:

Table 1. Distribution of Frequency of Fathers by

Characteristics (Age, Education, Income, and Occupation)

Characteristics n = 50 %

Age

20-30 years 25 50,0

31-40 years 21 42,0

41-50 years 4 8,0

Education

SD 4 8,0

SMP 9 18,0

SMA 35 70,0

Perguruan Tinggi 2 4,0

Income

Rp. 500.000-

Rp.1.500.000

10 20,0

Rp. >1.500.000-

Rp.2.000.000

27 54,0

Relationship of Knowledge and Father Support with Exclusive Breastfeeding in Puskesmas Pekan Labuhan Medan

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Table 1. Distribution of Frequency of Fathers by

Characteristics (Age, Education, Income, and

Occupation)(Cont.)

Characteristics n = 50 %

Rp. >2.000.000 13 26,0

Occupation

Governments

employees

1 2,0

Private employees 3 6,0

Laborers 16 32,0

Fishermen 12 24,0

Entrepeneur 14 28,0

Others 4 8,0

3.2 Exclusive Breastfeeding

Based on the results of research known that there are

70% of respondents who give exclusive breastfeeding

to the infant. This is known through the question

about food / drink is given shortly after the baby is

born and at what age the baby is given

complementary feeding.

3.3 Father's Knowledge

Based on the results of the study, knowledge of

father's knowledge about breastfeeding has a

sufficient level of knowledge of breast milk. Father's

education reflects that more educated fathers will be

more intensively seeking information on health-

related and knowledge-related benefits of

breastfeeding that are known to affect exclusive

breastfeeding practices. Father's work also related to

the father's working hours is indicated as a barrier to

involvement in prenatal consultations resulting in low

opportunities to learn and increase their knowledge of

breastfeeding (Destriatania, 2010; Kepmenkes RI,

2004).

Table 2. Distribution of Frequency of Father

Knowledge in Exclusive Breastfeeding

Knowledge n=50 %

Good 22 44,0

Sufficient 27 54,0

Less 1 2,0

A father who has knowledge of breast milk and

breastfeeding management before having a baby is a

step toward exclusive breastfeeding success. The

higher the education level of the father it will be

highly correlated with the level of knowledge of the

father (Juherman, 2008).

Additionally, there are fathers who have less

knowledge about breastfeeding. This is allegedly

because there are still fathers who have never heard

or read breastfeeding information and have limited

access to breastfeeding information. One of the

obstacles in increasing exclusive breastfeeding is the

lack of knowledge about breastfeeding in the family.

Table 3. Relationship of Knowledge of Fathers with

Exclusive Breastfeeding

Exclusive

Breastfeeding

Kno

wle

dge

No Yes p

valu

f % f % Σ %

Goo

6,0

19 38,

22 44,

Suff

icie

Less

22,

2,0

32,

54,

2,0

0,03

Statistically obtained that p value 0,036 (p <0,05)

which mean there is a significant relationship

ICOSTEERR 2018 - International Conference of Science, Technology, Engineering, Environmental and Ramiﬁcation Researches

806

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between father's knowledge with exclusive

breastfeeding. The higher level of knowledge of

mother and father about breastfeeding will improve

the success of exclusive breastfeeding. Fathers and

mothers who learn breastfeeding and breastfeeding

management are one step towards achieving success

in exclusive breastfeeding (Roesli, 2000).

The results showed that many fathers know that

breast milk is the best food for babies. In addition, the

father also knows that colostrum should be given to

the baby, because in colostrum contains immune

substances for babies. This shows that the father

already has a good knowledge of colostrum.

Colostrum is also called "golden liquid" that is breast

milk that comes from the first day until day 4 or 7,

rich in anti-infective and high protein. Colostrum

contains living cells that resemble white blood cells

that can kill germs, so it should be given to the baby

(Roesli, 2000).

The distribution of father's knowledge of

exclusive breastfeeding can be seen in the following

table.

3.4 Father's Support

Father`s support is an emotional and psychological

activity given to nursing mothers. This is related to

thoughts, feelings, and senses that can facilitate the

production of breast milk. Fathers can play an active

role in exclusive breastfeeding success by providing

emotional support and practical help.

Table 4. Distribution of Frequency of Father Support in

Exclusive Breastfeeding

Support n = 50 %

Good 5 10,0

Sufficient 34 68,0

Less 11 22,0

Based on the results of the study is known most

of the father has sufficient support in breastfeeding.

However, there are 22% less supportive fathers in

breastfeeding. Of all the support for nursing mothers,

father support is most meaningful to mom. Father has

a very decisive role in the success of breastfeeding

because father helped determine the smoothness of

the reflex of milk let down reflex which is strongly

influenced by emotions or mother's feelings

(Roesli,2000).

Studies in Jakarta show that the father will

provide support to the mother to breastfeed if the

father has a good knowledge about breastfeeding and

has a good relationship with the mother-baby

(Februhartanty, 2008). Efforts that fathers can make

during breastfeeding are burping the baby after

feeding, changing diapers, massaging babies, bathing

babies, rocking babies, singing or telling stories for

babies, and playing with babies. Playing is usually the

first thing a mother asks for a father to do. Often

babies quickly recognize the father as a playmate and

mother as a caregiver because the father spends a lot

of time playing (Riordan, 2005).

Table 5. Relationships Father`s Support with Exclusive

Breastfeeding

Exclusive

Breastfeeding

Support No Yes p

val

f % f % To

tal

Good 0 0 5 10 5 10

Sufficie

Less

0,2

Statistically obtained that p value 0,268 (p <0,05)

meaning there is no significant relation between

father support with Exclusive breastfeeding. This is

not in line with research at Lalang Village Health

Center that there is a significant relationship between

husband support with Exclusive Breastfeeding at

Lalang Village Community Health Center in Medan

(Sitopu, 2015). In addition, in other studies also

obtained the result that there is a husband support

relationship with the mother's willingness to provide

Exclusive Breast Milk (p = 0.001 <0.05) (Abidjulu et

al, 2014)

Relationship of Knowledge and Father Support with Exclusive Breastfeeding in Puskesmas Pekan Labuhan Medan

807

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Different results in this study are possible

because the father works for 4-10 hours outside the

home, so when at home the father does not have the

opportunity to accompany the mother in exclusive

breastfeeding. Today there are still many fathers who

argue that breastfeeding is a matter of mother and

baby. Father thinks enough to be a passive observer.

This can be seen in the results of research that there

are 22% of fathers think that the father only works

and take care of the baby is the mother's job (Roesli,

2000).

The results of research indicate that the practice

of exclusive breastfeeding is not significantly related

to the role of the father in breastfeeding (p = 0.235

and r = 0.156). This indicates whether or not the role

of the father in breastfeeding is not related to success

in exclusive breastfeeding (Juherman, 2008). Other

research in Bogor City is known to be the most

discussed before the decision of exclusive

breastfeeding, but in reality, when decision making

father played very small and many done by mother.

Decision making dominated by mothers is suspected

because there is still a stereotype that breastfeeding is

a mother's business, so Mother is a major party in

decision making breastfeeding (Abdullah, 2002).

4 CONCLUSIONS

Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded

that:

Most fathers (54%) had sufficient knowledge about

exclusive breastfeeding and knowledge had a

significant association with exclusive breastfeeding

(p <0.05). Likewise, father support is expected to

contribute to exclusive breastfeeding.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The writer would like to say thanks for Research

Institution of University of Sumatera Utara that has

gave donation until this research could be finished,

and also to the Dean Faculty of Public Health,

University of Sumatera Utara that has gave

permission to the writer to do the research. Besides

that, the writer also would like to say thanks to all the

parents that has work together and volunteering as

the object for this research.

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