Influence of Awareness Campaigns on Knowledge and Adoption of Six-Month Exclusive Breastfeeding in Lagos and Ogun States, Nigeria

Abstract

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that infants aged 0 to six months should be breastfed exclusively; adequate complementary feeding is only permitted after six months, along with breastfeeding, until the child turns two years and beyond. Even though Nigeria’s National Policy on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) expresses its commitment to WHO’s recommendation, six months exclusive breastfeeding however seems to be perpetually confronted with various obstacles.  This study therefore investigates the level of awareness and adoption of exclusive breastfeeding by nursing mothers in Lagos and Ogun States, South West Nigeria. Hinged on diffusion of innovations, knowledge gap, information processing and cognitive dissonance theories, the study adopted qualitative and quantitative survey design. A 23-item questionnaire was administered on 1,500 nursing mothers who patronised infant welfare clinics at government-owned Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in the two selected states. Key informant interview sessions were also held with health workers in maternity centres in the area of study.  Findings show that the majority of the nursing mothers were aware of the six months exclusive breastfeeding campaign; the dominant source of awareness was health workers at pre natal and infant welfare clinics; a majority of respondents claimed to have adopted six months exclusive breastfeeding  but   more than half of them confessed to introducing substances such as water, infant formula and herbal preparations to their infants well before such babies turned six months. The study recommends that health workers should be used to  emphasise the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding; and TV and radio should be utilised with intensity to enhance awareness and knowledge of the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding.   

Keywords:  Adoption, awareness, breast feeding campaign, exclusive.