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Attitude and Practice of Effective Weaning Techniques Among Breastfeeding Mothers Attending General Hospital Koko, Kebbi State, Nigeria
Subject area: Biological & Medical Sciences · Area of research: Nursing Sciences
DOI: 10.64388/IREV10I3-1722833
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.
Keywords
Breastfeeding, complementary feeding, effective weaning, maternal attitude, maternal practice, nutrition.
References
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[2] Edafioghor, L. O., Asiegbu, U., Ezeonu, C., Iheme, G., Adeduntan, H., & Ekwueme, I. (2021). Maternal complementary feeding practices and anthropometric status of children (6–23 months) in Abakaliki, Nigeria: A facility-based study. World Nutrition, 12(2), 48–62.
[3] Esan, D. T., Adegbilero-Iwari, O. E., Hussaini, A., & Adetunji, A. J. (2022). Complementary feeding pattern and its determinants among mothers in selected primary health centers in the urban metropolis of Ekiti State, Nigeria. Scientific Reports, 12, 6252. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-10308-7
[4] Ilegbusi, P. H., & Anyadi, D. N. (n.d.). Perception of nursing mothers to weaning diet for under-one-year children in Oda, Akure South Local Government, Ondo State, Nigeria. International Academic Research Journal of Internal Medicine & Public Health.
[5] Issaka, A. I., Agho, K. E., & Renzaho, A. M. N. (2021). Prevalence of key breastfeeding indicators in 29 sub-Saharan African countries: A meta-analysis of demographic and health surveys. BMJ Open, 11(2), e042659.
[6] Lozano-Parra, J. (2025). Class attendance and academic performance in geography programs. Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 49(2), 173–184. https://doi.org/10.1080/03098265.2024.2403070
[7] Nguyen, P. H., Scott, S., Avula, R., Tran, L. M., & Menon, P. (2022). Social and behavioral determinants of infant and young child feeding practices in low-income settings. Current Developments in Nutrition, 6(2), nzab135.
[8] Nwaodu-Ufomba, L. (2024). Complementary feeding perception among nursing mothers in Nigeria. Indonesian Journal of Global Health Research, 7(1), 235–246.
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[10] Onubogu, C. U., Ugochukwu, E. F., Okeke, K. N., Manyike, C. P., Ekwochi, U., & Ukpabi, I. K. (2022). Complementary feeding practices of mothers resident in South-East Nigeria and effect on weight of children aged 6–23 months. Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research, 34(22), 69–83.
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How to cite this paper
@article{1722833,
author = {Almustapha Lawal Ahmad, Danjuma Aishatu, Sani Gaddafi Wasagu, Abubakar Aliyu Sani, Danjuma Mubarak},
title = {Attitude and Practice of Effective Weaning Techniques Among Breastfeeding Mothers Attending General Hospital Koko, Kebbi State, Nigeria},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {10},
number = {3},
pages = {788-794},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1722833.pdf},
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.},
keywords = {Breastfeeding, complementary feeding, effective weaning, maternal attitude, maternal practice, nutrition.},
month = {September},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I3-1722833}
}