RESEARCH JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
Integrity Research Journals
ISSN: 2536-7080
Model: Open Access/Peer Reviewed
DOI: 10.31248/RJFSN
Start Year: 2016
Email: rjfsn@integrityresjournals.org
Maternal practice of exclusive breastfeeding on 0-6 month’s infants' health outcomes in Bayelsa West, Nigeria
https://doi.org/10.31248/RJFSN2026.232 | Article Number: 5B3F08B12 | Vol.11 (3) - August 2026
Received Date: 08 July 2026 | Accepted Date: 10 August 2026 | Published Date: 30 August 2026
Authors: Emily Kiridi G. E. , Solomon M. Uvoh* and Charles Ngaikedi N.
Keywords: Health, food, water, Breastfeeding, infants
This study assessed the physiological impact and prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice among mothers of infants of 0-6months in SALGA of Bayelsa State. A cross-sectional survey design using a multistage sampling technique was employed to select all 315 mothers with infants of 0-6months that met the criteria for the study out of 325 structured questionnaires (main instrument used) dispatched. The results show that 20-29yrs (36.2%) make up the largest share of the considered population, while those with tertiary education (51.4%) dominate, followed by those with a secondary certificate (43.8%). The mothers of the infants were mostly (53.3%) married. The outcome from this study shows 23.8% of mothers are practicing exclusive breastfeeding compared to 76.2% who have introduced supplementary food to their infants’ diets. Most infants (51.4%) have experienced fever within six months interval compared to 12.4% with no major signs of illness. Lack of time due to work was a major barrier (39.0%) for mothers to practice EBF. The study further observed that health care providers (56.2%) are playing a key role in educating mothers (100%) on the Physiological importance of exclusive breastfeeding. Support from healthcare providers and health education will play a significant role in encouraging mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding. Interventions addressing work-related time constraints, including breastfeeding-friendly workplace policies and maternity protection, may help improve exclusive breastfeeding practices among working mothers. Also, the study reported health problems among the infants; further analytical or longitudinal research is needed to determine their relationship with EBF.
| Adebayo, A. M., Ilesanmi, O. S., Falana, D. T., Olaniyan, S. O., Kareem, A. O., Amenkhienan, I. F., Alele, F. O., Afolabi, A. A., Omotoso, B. A., & Ayodeji, O. O. (2021). Prevalence and predictors of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers in a semi-urban Nigerian community: a cross-sectional study. Annals of Ibadan Postgraduate Medicine, 19(1), 31. | ||||
| African Union (2024). Africa unites for World Breastfeeding Week 2024: Closing the gap in breastfeeding support for all. Retrieved from https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20240823/africa-unites-world-breastfeeding-week-2024. | ||||
| Ahmed, S. O. M., Ashgar, R. I., Abdelgader, A. A. M., Hamid, H. I. A., Mathkor, D. M., Ali, M. A. A., Mohmed, S. A. M., Farg, S.J. A., Ebrahim, R. A. M., Tia, M. M. G., & Hazazi, Z. H. A. (2023). Exclusive breastfeeding: Impact on infant health. Clinical Nutrition Open Science, 51, 44-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutos.2023.08.003 |
||||
| Akingbesote, F. F., Adeyanju, O. D., Ndikom, C. M., Akinwaare, M. O., & Joseph, J. G. (2025). Core barriers to optimal breastfeeding practices among recently delivered mothers in Ibadan, Nigeria: A mixed study. Journal of Public Health and Diseases, 7(3), 57-66 https://doi.org/10.31248/JPHD2025.156 |
||||
| Alabi, T. J., & Elefane, K. A. (2021). Barriers to exclusive breastfeeding practice among rural and urban mothers in Nigeria: A systematic review. International Journal of Medical Reviews, 8(3), 108-115. | ||||
| Amoo, T. B., & Anjola, A. (2022). Knowledge, practice and perceptions on exclusive breastfeeding among lactating mothers in rural primary health facilities in southwestern Nigeria. African Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health, 16(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.12968/ajmw.2021.0006 |
||||
| Ashimika, M., & Rajesh, J. (2014). Importance of exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding among infants. Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science, 2(2), 56-72. https://doi.org/10.12944/CRNFSJ.2.2.02 |
||||
| Balogun, O. O., Dagvadorj, A., Anigo, K. M., Ota, E., & Sasaki, S. (2015). Factors influencing breastfeeding exclusivity during the first 6 months of life in developing countries: a quantitative and qualitative systematic review. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 11(4), 433-451. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12180 |
||||
| Black, R. E., Victora, C. G., Walker, S. P., Bhutta, Z. A., Christian, P., De Onis, M., Ezzati, M., Grantham-McGregor, S., Katz, J., Martorell, R., & Uauy, R. (2013). Maternal and child undernutrition and overweight in low-income and middle-income countries. The Lancet, 382(9890), 427-451. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60937-X |
||||
| Dauda, M. Y., Nasiru, H., Mustapha, S., Jumare, S. A., Maru, A. A., & Oluchukwu, I. U. (2026). Influence of traditional beliefs and practices of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers attending "Dr. Bello Buzu" Clinic, Kaura-Namoda, Zamfara | ||||
| Egwuda, L. (2015). Pattern of rates of exclusive breastfeeding in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. International Journal of Medical Science of Public Health 4,878-882 https://doi.org/10.5455/ijmsph.2015.14102014179 |
||||
| Gilano, G., Dekker, A., & Fijten, R. (2025). The effect of mHealth on exclusive breastfeeding and its associated factors among women in South Ethiopia: a cluster randomized controlled trial. Nutrients, 17(21), 3477. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17213477 |
||||
| Kyei-Arthur, F., Aballo, J., Mahama, A. B., & Adu-Afarwuah, S. (2024). Infant and young child feeding practices among mothers in the pilot Micronutrient Powder Initiative in four geographically and ethnically diverse districts in Ghana. Plos one, 19(8), e0307961. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0307961 |
||||
| Mohammed, S., Yakubu, I., Fuseini, A. G., Abdulai, A. M., & Yakubu, Y. H. (2023). Systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence and determinants of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life in Ghana. BMC Public Health, 23, Article number 92. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15758-w |
||||
| National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) (2021). Multiple indicator cluster survey: Exclusive breastfeeding rates in Nigeria | ||||
| Nkala, T. E., & Msuya, S. E. (2011). Prevalence and predictors of exclusive breastfeeding among women in Kigoma region, Western Tanzania: a community based cross-sectional study. International Breastfeeding journal, 6, article number 17. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4358-6-17 |
||||
| Okafor, A. E., Uche, O. A., & Uche, I. B. (2023). Sociocultural factors as predictor to exclusive breastfeeding (ebf) practice among nursing mothers in some communities in Eastern, Nigeria. Social Work in Public Health, 38(4), 298-310. https://doi.org/10.1080/19371918.2022.2135663 |
||||
| Olayemi, O. D., Williams, A. O., Adekugbe, O., Odubanjo, M. O., Fayehun, O., Uneke, J., Ogala, W., & Omotade, O. (2014). Factors influencing the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in three regions of Nigeria. Journal of Community Medicine & Primary Health Care, 26(1), 30-43. | ||||
| Ozigbo, C. J. (2026). Exclusive breastfeeding practices and associated factors among mothers with children 6-24 months in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. East African Scholars Journal of Medical Science, 9(5), 272-284 https://doi.org/10.36349/easms.2026.v09i05.006 |
||||
| State. FUDMA Journal of Sciences, 10(12), 45-51. | ||||
| Tahiru, R., Amoako, M., & Apprey, C. (2024). Exclusive breastfeeding: an exploratory thematic analysis of the perspectives of breastfeeding mothers and significant others in the Tamale metropolis of Northern Ghana. BMC Nutrition, 10, Article number 161. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-024-00973-4 |
||||
| UNICEF (2025). Breastfeeding. Retrieved from https://data.unicef.org/topic/nutrition/breastfeeding/ | ||||
| Vafaee, A., Khabazkhoob, M., Moradi, A., & Najafpoor, A. A. (2010). Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life and its determinant factors on the referring children to the health centres in Mashhad, Northeast of Iran-2007. Journal of Applied Sciences, 10(4), 343-348 https://doi.org/10.3923/jas.2010.343.348 |
||||
| Victora, C. G., Bahl, R., Barros, A. J., França, G. V., Horton, S., Krasevec, J., Murch, S., Sankar, M. J., Walker, N., & Rollins, N. C. (2016). Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. The lancet, 387(10017), 475-490. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01024-7 |
||||
| Wepeba, T. W., Dowou, R. K., Akeriwe, M. L., Wondong, W. P., Abubakari, A., & Aninanya, G. A. (2025). Exclusive breastfeeding determinants among healthcare professionals in Northern Ghanaian hospitals: a cross-sectional study. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 44(1), 226. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00977-1 |
||||
| World Health Organisation (WHO) (2026). Infant and young child feeding. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/data/nutrition/nlis/info/infant-and-young-child-feeding. | ||||
Copyright © 2026 Integrity Research Journals. All rights reserved.