ABSTRACT

 The study was designed to detennine the knowledge and attitude of health workers towards infants and young child feeding (IYCF), in Umuahia South Local Government Area (L.G.A), Abia state. The cross-sectional study design was used to recruit 271 consented health workers in the selected health centres. Data on the socio-econonic characteristics of the health workers, their knowledge and attitude towards infants feeding (0-6 months), and also knowledge and attitude towards young child feeding (6-23 months), were sourced primarily using a validated semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics such as, percentage and frequency distribution was used to analyze the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents. Frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation was used to analyze attitude and knowledge of the respondents. Pearson correlation was used to analyze the association between socioeconomic characteristics and attitudes of health workers on young child feeding practices. Data analysis was performed using IBM Statistical package for service software (SPSS) version 25.0. The study findings showed that, 4.4% of the healthcare workers were 20-24 years, while 95.6% were between 25- 49years, with mean age (33.70±6.83). The healthcare workers were females (69.4%) and male (30.6%). Some of the healthcare workers, 72.7%, had good knowledge towards infant feeding (0-6months) and 27.3% of the health workers had fair knowledge towards infant feeding (0-6months). Some of the health workers 26.2% had good knowledge on young child feeding (6-23 months), 36.5% had fair knowledge and 37.3% had poor knowledge on young child feeding practices. Majority( 95.2%) of the healthcare workers had positive attitude towards infants feeding (0-6months) while 4.8% of the healthcare workers had a negative attitude towards infant feeding and 93.4% of the health workers showed positive attitude towards young child feeding (6-23 months) while 6.6% of the health workers showed negative attitude towards young child feeding practices. There was a negative significant association (p

<0.05) between income status and knowledge of healthcare workers towards infant and young child feeding. There was a negative significant association (p ><0.05) between qualification status and knowledge of healthcare workers towards inf ants and young child feeding. This findings demonstrated the needs for healthcare providers to advance in their knowledge in order to disseminate evidence-based infonnation to mothers. It is recommended that there is need to give additional attention to the knowledge and attitude of healthcare professionals towards infant and young child feeding. >