Socio-demographic factors affecting the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in South-South, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: According to the convention on the Right of a Child, every infant has the right to good nutrition.The nutritional well-being of a population is both an outcome and indicator of national development. Nutrition is, therefore, an issue of survival, health and development of current and succeeding generations. Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the socio-demographic factors affecting the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in South-South of Nigeria. Methods and Materials: A semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire was distributed using a systematic random sampling technique to 276 mothers who brought their infants to Child Welfare Centre located in South-South Region of Nigeria. The dependent variable was exclusive breastfeeding while the independent variables were maternal marital status, ethnic group, residence, employment, education, monthly income, religion and parity. Findings: The mean age of the mother was 30.2 with a standard deviation of 7.9. Statistically significant socio-demographic factors affecting maternal exclusive breastfeeding practice were maternal age (X 2 = 22.09,p < 0.0001), Maternal education level (X 2 =35.87,p < 0.0001), Maternal employment type (X 2 = 48.75,p <0.0001), Maternal Resident (X 2 =13.63,p<0.0001), Ethnic group (X 2 =14.30,p=0.0003), Maternal monthly income (X 2 =17.52,p<0.0001), Maternal spouses' occupation (X 2 =35.91,p<0.0001) However, Marital status (X 2 =0.75,p = 0.745), Religion (X 2 =0.80, p=0.66), Maternal Parity (X 2 =1.82,p=0.176), were not statistically significance. Conclusion: The socio-demographic factors identified in this study to affecting exclusive breastfeeding in South-South of Nigeria were maternal age, maternal education level, maternal employment type, maternal residence, maternal monthly income and maternal spouses' occupation. These factors should be considered in exclusive breastfeeding intervention programs.