CENTRAL UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF APPLIED SCIENCE.

DEPARTMENT OF NURSING.

RESEARCH

TOPIC: Assessing the knowledge of women of childbearing age on the

importance of breastfeeding within Prampram.

NAMES OF AUTHORS AND INDEX NUMBERS:

Maame Afua Korang Gyimah..NUR/12/01/0380

Queendarlyn Puttick NUR/12/01/0483
 CHAPTER TWO

2.0 INTRODUCTION TO THE CHAPTER

This chapter focuses on the research or methodology used in the study.

It explains how the study is conducted, the applied methods and techniques in data

collection and reasons why they were used according to the research aims and main

objectives of the study. The ethical statement and limitations of the study are also

presented in this chapter.

2.1 RESEARCH DESIGN

According to De Vaus (2008), research design refers to the overall strategy chosen to

integrate the different components of the study in a coherent and logical way, thereby,

ensuring you will effectively address the research problem; it constitutes the blueprint for

the collection, measurement, and analysis of data.

Upon careful examination of the topic of the study, cross sectional survey was considered

suitable for the research. A cross-sectional study design is used based on these two

conditions,

When the purpose of the study is descriptive, often in the form of a survey.

Usually there is no hypothesis as such, but the aim is to describe a population or a

subgroup within the population with respect to an outcome and a set of risk

factors.

When the purpose of the study is to find the prevalence of the outcome of interest,

for the population or subgroups within the population at a given point in time.
 Cross-sectional studies are carried out at one point or over a short period. They are

usually conducted to estimate the prevalence of the outcome of interest for a given

population, commonly for the purposes of public health planning. Data can also be

collected on individual characteristics, including exposure to risk factors, alongside

information about the outcome. In this way cross-sectional studies provide a 'snapshot' of

the outcome and the characteristics associated with it, at a specific point in time. Cross-

sectional studies are sometimes carried out to investigate associations between risk

factors and the outcome of interest. They are limited, however, by the fact that they are

carried out at one time point and give no indication of the sequence of events whether

exposure occurred before, after or during the onset of the disease outcome.

2.2 RESEARCH SETTING

The Prampram Township is the largest community in the Dangme West District. It is a

coastal community therefore, the primary occupation is fishing and fish selling, but also

includes small farmers and artisans. The community has three health centers and a

District Hospital located in Dodowa, the district capital. For the purposes of this research,

all work would be carried out at Prampram polyclinic.

2.3 TARGET POPULATION

The study population would consist of lactating as well as non-lactating mothers,

nurses, pregnant women, guardians and women of child bearing age (preferably with the

ages of 18-35years) who report to the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) at the Prampram

polyclinic at the time of the study.

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Breastfeeding as well as non-breastfeeding mothers, pregnant women, guardians

who bring infants to the child welfare clinic (CWC)

Women preferably within the ages of 18 and 35 years.

Exclusion Criteria

Clients too sick to participate

Those not willing to participate in the study

2.4 SAMPLING METHOD AND SAMPLE SIZE

The sampling method proposed for this study would be Convenience sampling.

Convenience sampling is a non-probability sampling technique where subjects are

selected because of their convenient accessibility and proximity to the researcher. The

sampling technique was employed because of their schedules of the women hence the

research adopted the use of convenience sampling where the samples selected were based

on the availability of respondents. A sample size of 50 women would be chosen as sample

size for the study.

2.5 DATA COLLECTION TOOL

Structured questionnaire consisting of both open ended and close ended questions will be

given to the respondents to answer. A questionnaire contains written questions that

people respond to directly on the questionnaire form itself, with or without the aid of an

interviewer (Monette, 2002). The reason for using questionnaire in this study is that data
collected by means of questionnaire are easy to analyse. It also enables large amounts of

data to be collected in a short period of time and in a relatively cost effective way. In

addition to this, it allows the collection relevant information for the purpose of research

as well as getting the story behind a participant's experiences and attitude.

2.6 DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURE

The data for this research were collected using a survey questionnaire. The survey was

created using suitable questions modified from related research and individual questions

formed based on the objectives of the study. The survey was comprised of 13 questions,

which were related to the participants knowledge on the importance of exclusive

breastfeeding within Prampram. In the questionnaire, most of the questions were multiple

choice questions which allows the respondents to choose from a list of items. After the

questionnaires was validated, they were distributed to the women present at one of the

ANC in Prampram. Sometimes the questionnaires were interpreted to the participants and

the responses entered by the research assistants due to the fact that some of the

respondents had difficulty in reading and writing.

2.7 VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF THE STUDY

Validity can be defined as the degree to which a test measures what it is supposed to

measure (Mason and Bramble 1989). On the other hand, reliability of a research

instrument concerns the extent to which the instrument yields the same results on

repeated trials. The tendency toward consistency found in repeated measurements is

referred to as reliability (Carmines & Zeller, 1979).

The research was conducted in accordance to authenticity and the ethical considerations

stated in this document from the beginning of this research till the end. The research was

carried out under strict supervision of a learned supervisor and adequately trained

researchers.

-Pretesting of tool

A pilot test was conducted among a select group of about 10 to 15 women who met the

research criterion. This primary set up was to ensure that the selected research method

was effective and non-problematic. The pilot test allowed the researchers identify

problem areas and make the necessary corrections and modifications and also gave some

insight into the reaction of the candidates and what to expect with subsequent groups.

2.8 ETHICAL COSIDERATIONS

Institutional approval has been received from Central University College Department of

Nursing Research and Ethics Committee.

This research project will be systematically planned with all data sources cited so as to

prevent misleading information as well as plagiarism. The purpose of the study will be

explained to the respondents prior to the interviews and focus group discussions. Steps

would be taken to protect and ensure the dignity, confidentiality and anonymity of all as

participants as desired. These steps include:

1. Sending a letter of permission to the participating body to allow for the study to

be carried out in their facility.

2. Interviewees will be allowed to sign a consent form

3. Permission will be sought to record their responses.

4. There will be no traceable information on the demographics of participants

(names, phone numbers, official title)

2.9 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

The research like any other research was not devoid of impediments in the smooth

realisation of the set objectives and purpose of research, few of which are enumerated

below:

1. The language barrier between the respondents and researchers has served as a

limitation for the smooth running of this project.

2. There was limited time to thoroughly study the subject heading over a longer

period of time which could have helped in coming out with a more solid

evidence-based data