Socio-economic Factors Influencing Adoption of Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice by Nursing- Mothers in Selected Communities in Imo State, Nigeria

Aim: To determine the influence of socio-economic characteristics of the nursing-mother on the adoption of exclusive breastfeeding practice, among rural nursing-mothers in Imo State, Nigeria.
Study Design: This study employed descriptive survey design.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in three rural communities selected from the three senatorial zones in Imo State, Nigeria. The study was conducted between December, 2012 and June, 2013.
Methodology: The entire population was enlisted for the study. The target population of the study was 405 nursing-mothers with children aged twenty-four months and below in the selected communities. However, 340 nursing-mothers out of the 405 responded. Instruments for data collection were structured questionnaire and Focus Group Discussion (FGD). Reliability of the instrument was established using Crombach’s Alpha Coefficient (r = 0.8). All the households in the communities were visited and the nursing-mothers found at home on the day of the visit responded to the questionnaire. Ten nursing mothers from each of the communities participated in FGD. The socio-economic factors studied included nursing-mother’s age, educational attainment, occupation, monthly income, marital status and religion.
Results: Results of the study revealed that the percentage of exclusive breastfeeding practice was very low (13.5%) in the target communities which aligned with the national compliance level of 13%. Respondents within the age range of 15-19 years; those with no formal education; subsistence farmers and those who earn less than minimum wage had higher percentage practice than others. All the variables were statistically significant except marital status and religion.
Conclusion: Some socio-economic factors negatively influence exclusive breastfeeding practice. It was recommended that efforts to promote exclusive breastfeeding be directed towards addressing the identified factors with negative influence and to also identify other factors contributing to low exclusive breastfeeding practice.