Abstract:

Lactation breast abscess is a painful, debilitating condition that if inappropriately managed, may lead women to discontinue breastfeeding prematurely. This study assessed the rate and predisposing factors to development of breast abscesses among 100 women in the Batibo Health District.

A structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and other data which was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 16.0; SPSS inc. 38 of the 100 women were found to have had breast abscess giving a rate of 38%. Premature cessation of breastfeeding, refusal to breastfeed, excessive weight gain during pregnancy, and abrupt method of weaning were the major predisposing factors identified. Thus, breast abscesses occur among lactating mothers in the Batibo Health District. 

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