Year: 2026 | Month: July-September | Volume: 11 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 193-198
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/gijhsr.20260322
Attitude and Practice of Exclusive Breastfeeding among Nursing Mothers in Nyita Ward, Donga, Taraba State
Ojima Simon1, Bako Ali Istifanus2, Salvation Innocent3, Hassan Sylvester Ibrahim4, Ikipwen Miracle Danjuma5
1,2,4,5Department of Public Health, Taraba State University, Jalingo. Taraba State Nigeria
3Department of Environmental Health Science, Taraba State University, Jalingo.
Corresponding Author: Ojima Simon
ABSTRACT
The main purpose of this study was to assess the attitude and practice of exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers in Nyita Ward, Donga, Taraba State, Nigeria. Exclusive breastfeeding is an essential public health practice recommended for the first six months of neonatal and infant life due to its numerous nutritional benefits for both the infant and the mother These nutritional components include essential amino acids such as arginine, valine, histidine, isoleucine, lysine, and methionine. Despite these essential nutritional values, exclusive breastfeeding remains low in many African countries such as Ghana, Cameroon, Benin Republic, Chad, and Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings revealed that 53.0 percent of respondents exhibited positive attitudes toward exclusive breastfeeding, while 63.1 percent practiced it effectively. The findings highlight the need for strengthened health promotion, education, and policy interventions to enhance the adoption of exclusive breastfeeding.
Keywords: EBF, Exclusive Breastfeeding UNICEF, United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund