ABSTRACT

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess breastfeeding practices of mothers in urban (Owerri Municipal LGA) and rural (Obowo LGA) areas of Imo State. A total of 250 lactating mothers, with infants 0-12 months, attending postnatal clinics at selected health facilities were purposively selected and used for this study. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit information on socioeconomic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and practice of breastfeeding by mothers in both areas. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptives and chi-square statistics with SPSS software version 20.0. Majority of the lactating mothers were in the age range of 26-35 years. In both areas studied, most of the mothers (67.6%) had fair knowledge of breastfeeding, and 60% had good attitude towards breastfeeding. Significant differences were observed in breastfeeding practices between urban and rural mothers in terms of prelacteal feeding (x2=9.993; p=0.019), exclusive breastfeeding (x2=10.183; p=0.006), complementary feeding (x2=8.522; p=0.014), and method of feeding the baby in the absence of the mother (x2=18.525; p=0.000). Socio-demographic factors that mostly affected breastfeeding practices were total family income, number of children in the household, maternal educational status and maternal monthly income (p<0.05). Efforts should therefore be made by family and society to protect, promote and support appropriate breastfeeding practices among urban and rural mothers.