ABSTRACT

This study assesses the knowledge, attitude and practice of exclusive breastfeeding among working class mothers in Mbano LGA of Imo state. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 239 breastfeeding mothers. A structured questionnaire constructed into four (4) sections was used to collect information on socioeconomic/demographic characteristic knowledge, attitude and practice of exclusive breastfeeding. Result shows that a vast majority (99.6%) ofthe subjects were aware about exclusive breastfeeding while few 0.4% have not heard about it. Majority 82.0% of the subjects reported hospital/health centers as their source of awareness with a further 8.4%, 5.0% and 4.2% reporting friends/relatives, radio and television and television respectively. This study revealed that 26.4%, 65.3% and 8.3% of the mother had poor knowledge, fair knowledge and good knowledge on exclusive breastfeeding. Some 45.6%, 31.8% and 22.6% of the subjects had a fair, good and poor attitude towards exclusive breastfeeding. More than half (60.3%) of the subjects were still breastfeeding while 39.7% were not. Some 31.0% of the subjects not breastfeeding gave lack of time due to work as reason, while only few 2.0% gave health as reason for not breastfeeding a little above half (52.7%) ofthe subjects breastfed child on demand with a further 34.3% breastfeeding when child starts to cry, whereas few 1.7% only breastfeed when less busy. A vast majority (87.9%) of the subject fed child with expressed breast milk when not around while 12.1% feed child when they come back. His study revealed that although the awareness ofthe moderate. The study also points at the low level of awareness. This level of knowledge and attitude could be attributable to their level of education as studies have associated the level of education to the knowledge and attitude towards exclusive breastfeeding. This study recommends increased awareness through others source and forester work place policies as this will help improve the knowledge attitude and practice of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers.