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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers in Ekosodin community, Ovia North East Local
Government Area of Edo State. To achieve the purpose of the study, four (4) research questions were raised and important literature related to exclusive breastfeeding were clearly discussed. The descriptive research design was used for this study and the study population was estimated at 14,000 residents in 2025 for Ekosodin, Community, Ovia North East Local Government Area
of Edo State. The simple random sampling technique was adopted to select forty (40) respondents from 5 major streets/areas in Ekosodin community namely: Newton Street, Edo
Street, JB, boundary road, and Market road. This will give a total of 200 respondents representing the study. The instrument used for data collection was a well-structured close-ended questionnaire with twenty (20) items. The questionnaire was validated by the project supervisor and two other lecturers in the Department of Health, Safety and Environmental Education. The test retest
reliability method was used to establish the reliability of the questionnaire. A total of two hundred and (200) questionnaires were administered to the sample and data collected was
analyzed using frequency count, percentage mean, and standard deviation. Based on the data collected and analyzed, it was found out that, knowledge and attitudes towards exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers in Ovia North East Local Government
Area of Edo State are generally high and positive, actual practice of exclusive breastfeeding remains only moderate. This gap between knowledge, attitude and practice highlights persistent
barriers such as cultural beliefs, family pressure, limited spousal support and work-related demands that hinder full adherence to exclusive breastfeeding recommendations. It was therefore recommended that Regular, culturally sensitive health talks and outreach programmes should be organized in Ekosodin community to reinforce correct information on exclusive breastfeeding and dispel myths or cultural beliefs that discourage the practice., health workers should deliberately include husbands, mothers-in-law and other significant family members in antenatal and postnatal counselling sessions to build supportive home environments for exclusive breastfeeding, government agencies and private employers within the locality should be encouraged to adopt breastfeeding-friendly policies such as extended maternity leave, breastfeeding breaks and provision of crèche facilities to support working mothers in practising exclusive breastfeeding, and also, Primary health centres should strengthen follow-up visits and postnatal counselling to monitor and support mothers in the first six months postpartum, addressing challenges that may arise in exclusive breastfeeding
Government Area of Edo State. To achieve the purpose of the study, four (4) research questions were raised and important literature related to exclusive breastfeeding were clearly discussed. The descriptive research design was used for this study and the study population was estimated at 14,000 residents in 2025 for Ekosodin, Community, Ovia North East Local Government Area
of Edo State. The simple random sampling technique was adopted to select forty (40) respondents from 5 major streets/areas in Ekosodin community namely: Newton Street, Edo
Street, JB, boundary road, and Market road. This will give a total of 200 respondents representing the study. The instrument used for data collection was a well-structured close-ended questionnaire with twenty (20) items. The questionnaire was validated by the project supervisor and two other lecturers in the Department of Health, Safety and Environmental Education. The test retest
reliability method was used to establish the reliability of the questionnaire. A total of two hundred and (200) questionnaires were administered to the sample and data collected was
analyzed using frequency count, percentage mean, and standard deviation. Based on the data collected and analyzed, it was found out that, knowledge and attitudes towards exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers in Ovia North East Local Government
Area of Edo State are generally high and positive, actual practice of exclusive breastfeeding remains only moderate. This gap between knowledge, attitude and practice highlights persistent
barriers such as cultural beliefs, family pressure, limited spousal support and work-related demands that hinder full adherence to exclusive breastfeeding recommendations. It was therefore recommended that Regular, culturally sensitive health talks and outreach programmes should be organized in Ekosodin community to reinforce correct information on exclusive breastfeeding and dispel myths or cultural beliefs that discourage the practice., health workers should deliberately include husbands, mothers-in-law and other significant family members in antenatal and postnatal counselling sessions to build supportive home environments for exclusive breastfeeding, government agencies and private employers within the locality should be encouraged to adopt breastfeeding-friendly policies such as extended maternity leave, breastfeeding breaks and provision of crèche facilities to support working mothers in practising exclusive breastfeeding, and also, Primary health centres should strengthen follow-up visits and postnatal counselling to monitor and support mothers in the first six months postpartum, addressing challenges that may arise in exclusive breastfeeding
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co-supervisor