Awareness, Knowledge, and Perception of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative Among Final-Year Midwifery Students at the University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ghana

Background The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) was launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF in 1991 to combat the low prevalence of breastfeeding worldwide. This initiative is structured to ensure that breastfeeding is initiated and sustained according to WHO's recommended standards. BFHI has been shown to significantly improve both the initiation and continuation of quality breastfeeding, which offers numerous benefits to both mothers and newborns. These benefits include reduced rates of malnutrition and stunted growth in infants and a lower incidence of ovarian and breast cancers in mothers. Given these benefits, it is crucial for student midwives to possess adequate knowledge of the ten steps to successful breastfeeding, as they will play a pivotal role in counseling and supporting breastfeeding practices in maternity settings. This study aims to assess the awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of final-year midwifery students at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) regarding BFHI. Aim To determine the awareness, knowledge, and perception of BFHI among final-year midwifery students at UHAS in Ho, Ghana. Methodology A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a quantitative approach to assess the awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of final-year midwifery students at UHAS regarding BFHI. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire composed of closed-ended questions. The questionnaire was administered face-to-face to students who met the inclusion criteria and consented to participate. The collected data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2010 and SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version-22. All analyses were performed with a 95% confidence level and a 5% level of statistical significance. Results A total of 75 students participated in the study. The age distribution revealed that 32% (24 participants) were aged 26–30 years, while 68% (51 participants) were aged ≤ 25 years. The majority of respondents, 88% (66 participants), were single, with 12% (9 participants) being married. Regarding religion, 76% (57 participants) identified as Christians, 20% (15 participants) as Muslims, and 4% (3 participants) as traditionalists. All participants were female. Importantly, all participants had heard of BFHI, with 70.7% demonstrating good knowledge of the initiative and 76.0% holding a positive perception of it. Conclusion This study concludes that 70.7% of final-year midwifery students at UHAS possess good knowledge of BFHI, and 76.0% have a positive perception of it. Continuous education is recommended to further enhance these levels of knowledge and perception, ultimately improving breastfeeding rates in Ghana.