KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING AMONG NURSING MOTHERS ATTENDING INFANT WELFARE CLINIC IN BOWEN UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL OGBOMOSO, OYO STATE
Abstract
It has been argued that women's good knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding can positively affect
their attitudes and can promote adequate practices of exclusive breastfeeding. This study aimed
at assessing the knowledge, attitude and practice of exclusive breastfeeding among nursing
mothers attending Infant Welfare Clinic in Bowen University Teaching Hospital Ogbomoso, Oyo
State. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used for this study. The population of interest
consisted of 244 nursing mothers attending Infant Welfare Clinic in Bowen University Teaching
Hospital Ogbomoso. The data was collected using a predesigned questionnaire with informed
consent and responses were analyzed using (SPSS package) 27th edition. The outcome of the study
shows that the level of knowledge on exclusive breastfeeding were above average 225(92.2%),
nursing mother had 229(93.9%) positive attitudes towards exclusive breastfeeding, there were
205(84.0%) good practice of exclusive breastfeeding. The factors influencing the practice of
exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers include mother’s health condition 229(97.9%),
educational level of mother 237(97.1%) and poor breast milk production 217(88.9%). The four
hypotheses test showed that there is a significant relationship between: level of education and
knowledge towards exclusive breastfeeding with (P=.000, X2 Cal=34.135a), nursing mothers’
occupation and practice of exclusive breastfeeding with (P=.000, X2 Cal=119.967a) and nursing
mothers’ spouse support and practice of exclusive breastfeeding with (P=.000, X2 Cal=194.387a).
However, there is no significant relationship between religion of nursing mothers and attitude
toward exclusive breastfeeding with (P=.513, X2 Cal=0.428a). It is therefore recommended that
nurses should ensure good enlightenment and proper health education on exclusive breastfeeding
should be emphasized, especially in the antenatal and infant welfare clinics.
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