Knowledge, Practice and Problems of Exclusive Breastfeeding among Mothers Attending the Outpatient Clinic of a Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Designated Hospital in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) provides all an infant requires for optimal growth and development in the first six months of life. Although most babies are breastfed in Nigeria, only 23% are exclusively breastfed. This study was carried out to ascertain the knowledge, practice and problems associated with EBF amongst mothers attending the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH).

Methods: A 5-month cross sectional study was carried out in the Paediatric outpatient clinic (POPC) of RSUTH. A total of 343 mothers were randomly recruited and a pre-tested structured questionnaire administered after obtaining informed consent.

Results: Ninety eight percent of the mothers had heard of EBF, 88% knew of its content and 80.2% knew that the duration of EBF was for 6 months. Only 46.4% exclusively breastfed their babies for 6 months and about 66% of participants knew of its benefits to both mother and child. Breastfeeding was commenced within 1 hour of delivery by 40.8% of mothers and pre-lacteal feeds given by 34.1% of mothers. Tertiary education, attending antenatal clinic and hospital delivery were significantly associated with good knowledge of EBF, while hospital delivery and multiparous women with at least 4 pregnancies were significantly associated with good EBF practice. Common challenges to EBF were perception that breast milk was insufficient for the babies (17.5%) and the need for mothers to return to work (9.3%).

Conclusion: Knowledge of EBF was high among mothers attending the POPC in RSUTH but the EBF rate was suboptimal. Increased health education on the importance of EBF, the provision of creches at work places and the extension of maternity leave is advocated.