Sample
The study population were postpartum women receiving care at the Pumwani Maternity Hospital. Postpartum women above eighteen years admitted at the hospital’s postnatal wards including those referred from different hospitals during the research period were considered to part of the study. Mothers with babies in critical condition, mothers who declined to be part of the study, as well as mothers who were ill and could not respond to the survey were excluded from this study.
The parameters from a feasibility study in Kenya that found 78% of the sampled population showed willingness to donate human milk was used to determine the sample size for this study (Kimani-Murage et al., 2019).
Single population proportion formula was used to estimate the sample size with a 95% confidence level and 5 % margin of error. Consecutive sampling technique was used to recruit three hundred and seventy mothers exceeding the necessary minimum sample needed.
Measurement
Pre-tested interview-based questionnaire was used to collect participant’s socio-demographic data, maternal history (breastfeeding, perinatal characteristics), awareness on human milk banking and other general factors that might influence acceptance to donating human milk and using donated milk in infant feeding. Before the questionnaire was used to collect actual data, it was pretested on 5% of the total sample size in a location other than the actual study site. After pretesting, the questionnaire was reviewed, and corrections were made to better align it with the objectives of the study. The research assistants received training to ensure consistency in recording responses and asking survey questions. Every day, all the questionnaires were reviewed to make sure they had been filled correctly. Before the commencement of the interviews the next day, any missing data was verified.