Assessment of Infant Feeding Practices Among Nursing Mothers in Ibadan, Oyo State

Optimal infant feeding, particularly exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, remains a cornerstone of child survival and development globally. This study assesses infant feeding practices among nursing mothers attending primary healthcare centres in Ibadan North and Ibadan South-West local government areas of Oyo State, South West Nigeria. Despite widespread campaigns promoting exclusive breastfeeding, adherence rates remain suboptimal in many urban communities across Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was employed, with 280 nursing mothers of infants aged 0 to 12 months recruited through consecutive sampling at six selected healthcare facilities. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on breastfeeding initiation, duration, complementary feeding introduction, and factors influencing feeding choices. Findings indicate that while a majority of mothers initiated breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, only a fraction maintained exclusive breastfeeding through six months. Common barriers identified included perceived insufficient breast milk, early return to work, and family pressure to introduce water or herbal preparations. Educational attainment and postnatal counselling were significant positive predictors of exclusive breastfeeding compliance. This study provides practical insights for healthcare workers designing targeted breastfeeding support programmes in urban South West Nigeria. Keywords: infant feeding, exclusive breastfeeding, nursing mothers, Ibadan, complementary feeding.