Peer-reviewed article
Attitude and Practice of Effective Weaning Techniques Among Breastfeeding Mothers Attending General Hospital Koko, Kebbi State, Nigeria
Almustapha Lawal Ahmad, Danjuma Aishatu, Sani Gaddafi Wasagu, Abubakar Aliyu Sani, Danjuma Mubarak ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5This study looked at how mothers in Koko, Kebbi State, Nigeria feed their babies solid foods alongside breastfeeding, a process called weaning or complementary feeding. Researchers surveyed 73 mothers of children aged 6 to 24 months attending a hospital clinic. Most mothers had positive attitudes and reported good practices, such as hygienic food preparation, handwashing, starting solid foods at six months, and avoiding harmful foods. Money problems, lack of knowledge, and family influence were identified as factors that could still get in the way of good weaning practices.
Key points
- 73 mothers of children aged 6-24 months were surveyed using a 25-item questionnaire
- Mothers showed a generally positive attitude toward effective weaning techniques (grand mean 3.0)
- Reported practices were also positive, including hygienic food preparation, hand hygiene, starting complementary foods at six months, and avoiding harmful foods
- Financial status was the strongest influencing factor (mean 3.3), followed by lack of knowledge and health workers' advice (mean 3.0 each)
- Study recommends strengthening nutrition education and counselling through antenatal and community services
Limitations
The study relies on mothers' self-reported attitudes and practices rather than observed behaviour, and the small sample from a single hospital limits how much the findings can be generalised elsewhere.
Abstract
Effective complementary feeding is essential for infant growth, development, and prevention of malnutrition. This study assessed the attitude and practice of effective weaning techniques and identified factors influencing these practices among breastfeeding mothers attending the antenatal clinic at General Hospital Koko, Koko/Besse Local Government Area, Kebbi State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted. The target population comprised 90 eligible breastfeeding mothers with children aged 6–24 months, from which a sample of 73 respondents was obtained using Taro Yamane’s formula. A self-structured 25-item questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, attitude, practice, and influencing factors was used for data collection. The instrument was subjected to face and content validity and test-retest reliability, yielding a reliability coefficient of 0.81. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics with SPSS version 25. All 73 questionnaires were retrieved. Respondents demonstrated a generally positive attitude toward effective weaning techniques, with a grand mean of 3.0. They also reported positive weaning practices, with a grand mean of 3.0, particularly in hygienic preparation of foods, hand hygiene, introduction of complementary foods at six months, and avoidance of harmful foods. Financial status was the most strongly identified influencing factor (mean = 3.3), followed by lack of knowledge and health workers’ advice (mean = 3.0 each). The study concludes that although mothers demonstrated favourable attitudes and reported appropriate practices, economic constraints, knowledge gaps, family influence, and other contextual factors may affect effective weaning. Strengthening nutrition education and counselling through antenatal and community-based services is recommended.