ABSTRACT

Exclusive breastfeeding provides many benefits to both infants and mothers. Despite the introduction of laws aimed at protecting the practice of exclusive breastfeeding. This study accessed the knowledge attitude and practice of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers in Ikwuano L.G.A, Abia State.. The study was a cross-sectional study. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a total of 362 women. Data on socio-demographic/economic characteristics, mother’s breastfeeding practices, attitude of the respondents towards breastfeeding, were collected using structured and validated questionnaire. The IBM SPSS version 24.0 computer programme was used to analyze the data. Significant relationship was judged at p ≤ 0.05. Data obtained were described using frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between mothers’ knowledge, attitude and practice of exclusive breastfeeding. Result from the study showed that most (43.4%) of the mothers were within below 30 years old. Majority (71.5%) of them were married and most (62.7%) of them completed tertiary education. Majority (96.1%) of the women were aware of exclusive breastfeeding and their source of awareness for majority (77.9%) was from health workers. Half (50.0%) of the women had a good knowledge towards exclusive breastfeeding, most (61.2% and 67.4%) of them had a positive attitude towards factors influencing the practice and non-practice of exclusive breastfeeding and benefits of exclusive breastfeeding. Most (68.5%) of the women practiced exclusive breastfeeding, less than half (38.4%) of the mothers initiated water within one hour of birth. When asked their reason for not practicing exclusive breastfeeding, some (43.1%) of them noted that they had delayed milk flow, some (7.5%) said it was because their child was sick while some (13.5%) were hindered by their sickness. Half (50.3%) of the respondents initiated complementary foods at six months. Some (39.2%) of the respondents experienced difficulties while breastfeeding and most (37.6%) of the difficulties experienced were nipple pain, breast pain (10.2%) and breast engorgement (5.5%). There was a significant negative relationship (p= 0.00; r=-.234) between knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding and attitude towards factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding. There was also a significant positive relationship (p=0.000; r=-0.226) between knowledge and practice of exclusive breastfeeding. Intervention strategies such as educating mothers about the need for exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life is mandatory particularly at the grassroots to to improve their knowledge and attitude to ensure optimal nutrition for children.