Knowledge and Practice of Exclusive Breast Feeding Among Mothers Attending Infant Welfare Clinic in a Tertiary Health Institution

Abstract

The practice of exclusive breastfeeding has been found out to be essential in reducing infant mortality. This practice has been documented to not only be beneficial to the child but also the mother and the society at large. This study was conducted to assess knowledge and practice of exclusive breastfeeding among women attending infant welfare clinic in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. This study adopted descriptive research design. In all 200 mothers participated in the study. Self administered self structured questionnaire whose validity and reliability has been previously established was the instrument used for data collection. The process of collection took 4 weeks. Data collected was analysed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 16.Results of the study should good knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding among women and good practice of exclusive breastfeeding. However not all women that practice exclusive breastfeeding, practice it for at least 6 months.  Husbands were found out to influence the practice and duration of exclusive breastfeeding among women. Although women in this study demonstrated good knowledge and practice of exclusive breast feeding, there is still need to reinforce teaching especially during ante natal clinic to improve the practice of exclusive breastfeeding. Conscious effort should also be made on the part of policy makers to put in place policies that will encourage women to practice exclusive breastfeeding because of the various inherent benefits for the child, mother and the society at large.

Keywords: Knowledge, Practice, Exclusive Breastfeeding