Knowledge and Attitude of Working-Class Women Towards Exclusive Breastfeeding in Kwara State, Nigeria: Implications for Counselling Practice.

Abstract

Background: Breastfeeding has long been recognized across cultures and societies as the optimal method of infant nutrition. This study therefore examined the knowledge and attitudes of working-class women towards exclusive breastfeeding in Kwara State, Nigeria.

Methods: A descriptive survey design was employed. Using a simple random sampling technique, 420 respondents were selected. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, including mean, rank order, and percentages, were used to answer the research questions, while Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was applied to test the hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance.

Results: The findings revealed that working-class women in Kwara State possessed knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding, including its benefits, techniques, and barriers. However, 67.1% of respondents demonstrated a negative attitude toward exclusive breastfeeding. The results further showed no significant differences in knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding based on age or educational qualification. In contrast, significant differences were observed in attitudes toward exclusive breastfeeding according to both age (F=4.83, p<0.05) and educational qualification (F=11.33, p<0.05).

Conclusion: Although working-class mothers generally possess adequate knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding, there is a need for targeted educational and training programs to improve their attitudes.