Abstract

Author:
Favour O. Uzora, Chidera G. Obib

Doi: 10.26480/mmhj.01.2024.01.08

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Despite the known benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and adequate child spacing, many women of child-bearing age may not be practicing these behaviors optimally, negatively affecting the health of the mother and child. The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge and attitudes regarding exclusive breastfeeding and child spacing among women of child-bearing age in the Owerri West local government area of Imo State. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, and a structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The participants were selected randomly from the 15 communities in the Owerri West local government area of Imo State, and 417 responses were collected. Microsoft Excel 2020 and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM-SPSS) Version 23.0 were used in the data analysis. 83.7% of the women were aware of the meaning of exclusive breastfeeding, 92.3% of the respondents believed that exclusive breastfeeding is the best; however, 38.8% expressed concerns about difficulties associated with exclusive breastfeeding. 97.8% of the respondents understood the concept of child spacing and its importance for maternal and child health. Condoms: 32.0%, injectables: 25.4%, and implants: 19.7% are the most widely used contraceptive methods. There is a considerable level of knowledge and positive attitudes toward exclusive breastfeeding, and child spacing gaps persist. This necessitates the need to improve the knowledge and attitude of women, implement targeted strategies to improve awareness, and address challenges such as societal pressures, stigma, and provide support systems.