Exclusive Breastfeeding and Its Associated Factors Among Working Mothers Presenting at The Sisters of The Nativity Hospital Jikwoyi, Urban –City, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Breast milk is the most nutritious food for infants and exclusive breastfeeding is the most sufficient type of infant feeding in the first six months of life. The purpose of this study was to assess the rate of exclusive breastfeeding among working mothers in the Sisters of the Nativity Hospital Jikwoyi, Urban – City, Abuja, Nigeria. Aim of the study was to establish the exclusive breastfeeding practices among working mothers attending the Hospital. The study utilized the cross-sectional descriptive study that made use of both the qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. The target population was 316 working women. Simple random sampling was used to sample 174 working women. Data was collected using questionnaires. The Spearman Brown Co-efficient was used to ascertain reliability. Findings established that; initiating breastfeeding within 2 hours after delivery, weaning at six months of age, exclusively breastfeeding up to 6 months and continuing breastfeeding until 2 years of age were the common exclusive breastfeeding practices among the working mothers. Factors hindering successful exclusive breastfeeding among working mothers and its promoters were determined from the findings and recommendations were duly made. The study concluded that working breastfeeding women who attend the target hospital adhere to breastfeeding practices as recommended by WHO, with the rate of 53(48.2%) which ishigher than 8% out of 29% working class mothers in previous studies.