ABSTRACT

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and continua breasfeeding and adequate complementary foods for up to two years of age or beyond. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers attending post natal clinic in Federal Medical Centre, umuahia, Abia State, Using a descriptive research design and a self-structured questionnaire, data was collected from 348 respondents, presented in frequency tables, interpreted and analyzed using the statistical production for service solution (SPSS) version 25. Result showed that more than half of the respondents (86.5%) are within the age range 20-40years and a majority (86.5%) were married, most (95.7%) practice Christianity, majority (61.5%) had the secondary level of educational qualification, 23.3% were self-employed with more than  half the respondent (55.5%) earning an average income .  In this study, majority of the respondents 44.5% have good knowledge an  26.7% have average knowledge on exclusive breastfeeding and most (70%) got their information from the antenatal clinic in the hospital, likewise majority (52.9%) have good practice of breastfeeding. The most challenging factors of exclusive breastfeeding identify in this study were: 25.6% health condition of the mother (cracked or sore nipples and bitter breast milk), lack of help to mothers (22.1%), inadequate time to breastfeed due to mother’s busy schedule (28,7%), mothers are not on maternity leave (10.1%), and inadequate breast milk secretion(13.5%). There is a significant relationship between knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding and its practice among working mothers attending antenatal clinic in Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Abia State. Similarly there is a significant relationship between practice of exclusive breastfeeding and respondents’ educational qualification. In conclusion the practice of EBF is influenced by its' knowledge and also educational qualification of respondents., health condition of mother and baby as well as cracked or sore nipples also hindered the practice of EBF. It is therefore recommended that Health sector should mandate that proper health education is carried out in hospitals for pregnant women receiving antenatal care  in their facilities and Nurses/Midwives should encourage and ensure post-partum care is adequately given to both the mother and baby.