MISCONCEPTIONS AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING CLINICS IN ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

Year 2026, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 46 - 56, 28.02.2026

Uzoma Uzoma , Nwachukwu Ugwunna , Christianah Uzokwe , Chisom Uzor , Success Victor , Emmanuel Nwobi

https://doi.org/10.33457/ijhsrp.1685281

https://izlik.org/JA53JJ54WU

Abstract

Despite extensive evidence supporting the life-saving benefits of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), persistent misconceptions, along with cultural beliefs, personal experiences, and societal pressures, continue to shape attitudes in ways that often undermine adherence to medical recommendations. This study thus set out to identify the misconceptions and attitudes toward EBF among women attending clinics in Enugu State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in three healthcare centers, involving 600 women aged 15 – 49 years, with at least one child over six months. A two-stage sampling method was used, and data were collected in May 2024 via self-administered questionnaires. The response rate was 72%. Common misconceptions were that breastfeeding causes saggy breasts (49.5%), pregnant women should not breastfeed (65.8%), and formula makes the baby gain weight and appear more attractive (55.5%). Many had good attitude toward EBF. In conclusion, the study highlighted a few common misconceptions about EBF similar to those seen in earlier studies, as well as a positive overall attitude. These results highlight the need for culturally sensitive educational interventions to dispel myths and strengthen breastfeeding support among Nigerian mothers.

Keywords

Exclusive breastfeeding , misconceptions , attitudes , maternal and child health , Nigeria

Ethical Statement

Ethical clearance was granted by the Health Research Ethics Committee of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla campus, Enugu State, Nigeria (ethical approval number: NHREC/05/01/2008B-FWA00002458-1RB00002323).

References

• World Health Organization. (2023, Aug. 9). Exclusive breastfeeding for optimal growth, development and health of infants [Online]. Available: http://www.who.int/tools/elena/interventions/exclusive-breastfeeding
• Lucas, A. O., Gilles, H. M., Short textbook of public health medicine for the tropics, Hodder Arnold, London, 2003.
• World Health Organization. (2017, Sep.). Complementary Feeding [Online]. Available: https://bit.ly/4jtb8lD
• UNICEF. (n.d.). 15 Myths About Breastfeeding [Online]. Available: https://www.unicef.org/egypt/nutrition/15-myths-about-breastfeeding
• Rotich, H., “Practices of exclusive breastfeeding among lactating mothers attending care at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, Hoima city, Western Uganda”, Newport International Journal of Public Health and Pharmacy, 3(3), 26–32, 2023. https://bit.ly/3EyEDTU
• Akinpelu, F. B., Ademuyiwa, I. Y., “Determinants of exclusive breastfeeding practice among mothers attending infant welfare clinic in Obafemi Owode primary health centres, Ogun state, Nigeria”, Journal of Medical and Dental Science Research, 8(7), 9–17, 2021. https://www.questjournals.org/jmdsr/papers/vol8-issue7/Ser-2/B08070917.pdf
• Bisi-Onyemaechi, A. I., Chikani, U. N., Ubesie, A. C., Chime, P. U., Mbanefo, N. R., “Factors associated with low rate of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers in Enugu, Nigeria”, International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 5(9), 3776–3781, 2017. doi: 10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20173948
• Al-Katufi, B., Al-Shikh, M., Al-Hamad, R., Al-Hajri, A., Al-Hejji, A., “Barriers in continuing exclusive breastfeeding among working mothers in primary health care in the ministry of health in Al-Ahsa region, Saudi Arabia”, Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 9(2), 957–972, 2020. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_844_19
• Nsiah-Asamoah, C., Doku, D. T., Agblorti, S., “Mothers’ and grandmothers’ misconceptions and socio-cultural factors as barriers to exclusive breastfeeding: a qualitative study involving health workers in two rural districts of Ghana”, PLoS One, 15(9), e0239278, 2020. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239278
• Mirabelle, N. B., Richard, A. E., “An assessment of the breastfeeding practices in Momo division, North West region of Cameroon”, Food Science & Nutrition, 8(9), 5086–5094, 2020. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.1808
• Masaba, B. B., Mmusi-Phetoe, R. M., Mokula, L. L. D., “Factors affecting WHO breastfeeding recommendations in Kenya”, International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences, 15(4), 100314, 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.ijans.2021.100314
• Faramade, I., Akande, R., Opakunle, O., Ojedokun, S., “Practice and challenges of working-class mothers toward exclusive breastfeeding in Ogbomoso Oyo State, Nigeria”, Western Journal of Medical and Biomedical Sciences, 4(1–2), 11–19, 2023. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.7481754
• Udujih, G. O., Elekanachi, H., Udujih, H. I., Iwuala, C. C., “Breastfeeding practice and awareness among women of child bearing age in Abia state Nigeria”, British Journal of Healthcare and Medical Research, 10(4), 79–84, 2023. doi: 10.14738/bjhmr.104.14393
• Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Online Repository. (2021, Jun. 10). Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Of Exclusive Breastfeeding Among Lactating Mothers In Ufuma, Orumba North Local Government Area Of Anambra State [Online]. Available: https://bit.ly/4iLhICY
• Alabi, T. J., Elefane, K. A., “Barriers to exclusive breastfeeding practice among rural and urban mothers in Nigeria: a systematic review”, International Journal of Medicine, 8(3), 108–115, 2021. doi: 10.30491/ijmr.2020.231196.1112
• Ogundare, E., Babatola, A., Omoyajowo, A., Ajite, A., Adeniyi, A., Fatunla, O., et al., “Breastfeeding: knowledge, perception, and intention to practice among female students of tertiary institutions in Ekiti, Southwest Nigeria”, Community Health Equity Research & Policy, 44(1), 15–28, 2023. doi: 10.1177/0272684X211034349
• Koura, H., “Myths about breastfeeding,” Al-Azhar Assiut Medical Journal, 17(2), 109–113, 2019. doi: 10.4103/AZMJ.AZMJ_112_18
• Lopes, A. C., Lousada, M., “Breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices of refugee, migrant and asylum seeker women in Portugal,” BMC Public Health, 24(1), 394, 2024. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-17849-8
• Roy, R. M., Alvinder, S. G., Abdus, S., Koh, Z. R., Ooi, Y. Y., “Knowledge, attitude and practice on exclusive breastfeeding among mothers in Malaysia,” International Medical Journal, 26(2), 77–80, 2019. https://bit.ly/4iCl5Mj
• Olejnik, A., Adamczewska, A., Kossakowska, K., “Factors affecting attitude toward breastfeeding in public: a cross-sectional web-based study on Polish women”, Journal of Public Health, 30(1), 263–272, 2020. doi: 10.1007/s10389-020-01320-0
• Dukuzumuremyi, J. P. C., Acheampong, K., Abesig, J., Luo, J., “Knowledge, attitude, and practice of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers in East Africa: a systematic review”, International Breastfeeding Journal, 15(1), 70, 2020. doi: 10.1186/s13006-020-00313-9
• Dadzie, B., Fidelis, B., Abdul-Razak, D., Kamilatu, J., Collins, A. A., Lamptey, A. A., et al., “Investigating factors that influence the practice of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers in an urban general hospital in Ghana: a cross-sectional study”, BMC Women’s Health, 23(1), 24, 2023. doi: 10.1186/s12905-023-02164-y
• Lokoru, F. E., “Knowledge, attitude and practices of mothers toward exclusive breastfeeding among mothers attending young child clinic in Mpigi Health Center IV: a cross-sectional study”, Student’s Journal of Health Research Africa, 3(6), 11, 2022. doi: 10.51168/sjhrafrica.v3i6.188
• Sabo, A., Justina, J. Y., Usman, S. U., Ibrahim, M. S., Alzoubi, M. M., Khalid, A. M., et al., “Knowledge, attitude, and practice of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers of childbearing age,” Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 2023. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1277813
• Osibogun, O. O., Olufunlayo, T. F., Oyibo, S. O., “Knowledge, attitude and support for exclusive breastfeeding among bankers in Mainland local government in Lagos state, Nigeria”, International Breastfeeding Journal, 13(1), 38, 2021. doi: 10.1186/s13006-018-0182-9
• Fosuaa, B. M., Knowledge, attitude and practice of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers in Techiman, Master’s thesis, University of Eastern Finland, Finland, 2018.
• Alutu, A., “Attitude of nursing mothers in Edo state toward exclusive”, The Nigerian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 7(1), 223–232, 2008. doi: 10.4314/njgc.v7i1.37057
• Olowolafe, A. S., Oyebade, O. O., “Knowledge, attitude and practice of exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mother in Saki West local government”, Open Access Journal of Nursing, 3(2), 19–26, 2020. doi: 10.22259/2639-1783.0302003
• ABC Science. (2014, Feb. 17). Mother's milk made to order for boys, girls [Online]. Available: https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2014/02/17/3946253.htm
• Ekwochi, U., Ugochukwu, E. F., Onubogu, C. U., “Breastfeeding duration and related factors among mothers in Southeast Nigeria”, International Journal of Health Sciences and Research, 11(5), 305–312, 2021. doi: 10.52403/ijhsr.20210548
• Sosseh, S. A. L., Barrow, A., Lu, Z. J., “Cultural beliefs, attitudes and perceptions of lactating mothers on exclusive breastfeeding in The Gambia: an ethnographic study”, BMC Women’s Health, 23(1), 18, 2023. doi: 10.1186/s12905-023-02163-z
• Mgongo, M., Hussein, T. H., Stray-Pedersen, B., Vangen, S., Msuya, S. E., Wandel, M., “Facilitators and barriers to breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania: a qualitative study”, International Journal of Pediatrics, 2019, 1–7, 2019. doi: 10.1155/2019/8651010
• Agyekum, M. W., Codjoe, S. N. A., Dake, F. A. A., Abu, M., “Enablers and inhibitors of exclusive breastfeeding: perspectives from mothers and health workers in Accra, Ghana”, International Breastfeeding Journal, 17(1), 21, 2022. doi: 10.1186/s13006-022-00462-z
• Victora, C. G., Bahl, R., Barros, A. J. D., França, G. V. A., Horton, S., Krasevec, J., et al., “Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect”, The Lancet, 387(10017), 475–490, 2016. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01024-7
• NDHS. (2018). Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, 2018 [Online]. Available: https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR359/FR359.pdf