A qualitative study on factors affecting exclusive breastfeeding practice among nursing mothers in south-east Nigeria

Abstract

B

Despite the benefits and efforts to promote exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), the practice is sub-optimal in many low-to-middle income countries including Nigeria. The practice of EBF is reported to be influenced by different socio-cultural factors, habits, standards, and behaviors. Hence, identifying these factors that affect EBF practice could facilitate development of interventions to tackle them.

This study aimed to identify the recurring barriers to EBF practice by nursing mothers in South-Eastern Nigeria.The study followed a qualitative approach, employing a phenomenological study design. South-Eastern part of Nigeria was conveniently selected for this study and carried out in the five states of the South-Eastern part of Nigeria. In each of the states, one rural and one urban health facility was selected conveniently and data was collected from nursing mothers who did not practice EBF assessing care in the Postnatal and Pediatric wards in the selected health facilities. The study participants include all the nursing mothers who did not practice EBF assessing care in the selected health institutions at the time of the study. A face-to-face interview was conducted on nursing mothers using an in-depth interview guide. Data were analyzed thematically. A total of four themes and seven sub-themes were identified as recurring barriers to EBF practice by the nursing mothers. The four themes were maternal-infant factors; support structures related factors; economic factors and traditional and sociocultural beliefs. Our findings revealed that maternal-infant factors and economic factors were the major and least barrier to the practice of EBF respectively. This study identified the recurring barriers to EBF practice by nursing mothers in South-Eastern Nigeria. Maternal-infant factors were the most common barrier to EBF practice. Interventions that focus on addressing these maternal-infant factors are therefore of great importance. Addressing these challenges will promote EBF practice with its intended benefits and ultimately improve maternal-child health outcomes.