AN ASSESSEMENT OF THE ATTITUDES, KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES OF EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING AMONG NURSING MOTHERS ATTENDING UNDER-FIVE CLINIC AT LEVY MWANAWASA TEACHING HOSPITAL IN LUSAKA DISTRICT.

Abstract

Background In the past, breast feeding was generally acknowledged across the world among all human groups, communities, societies and cultures as the most suitable form of infant feeding and played a fundamental role in the survival, growth, maturation and development of a child (Auukegbu, 2018). In the advent of industrialization and modernity where by mother’s involvement in work relations and probably lack of knowledge about the benefits and practice of breast-feeding, natural breast-feeding practices are being gradually replaced by artificial body foods. This has greatly deprived both the babies and mothers the chance to benefit from the importance of breast feeding. Against this background, the World Health Organization introduced the concept of exclusive breastfeeding which requires giving breast milk only to the infant, without any additional food or drink, not even water in the first six months of life, with the exception of mineral supplements, vitamins, or medicines (World Health Organization, 2020). Despite this concept by WHO, many countries including Zambia still face challenges in attaining high rates of mothers practicing exclusive breastfeeding, hence, this study came in to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of exclusive breastfeeding among nursing mothers attending under five Clinic at Levy Mwanawasa Teaching Hospital Methods This research used a qualitative research approach and targeted 30 nursing mothers that attend under-five clinic at Levy Mwanawasa Hospital. The 30 nursing mothers were selected using simple random techniques as it gave every nursing mother attending under-five clinic a chance to participate in the study. Further, the study used three focus group discussion to as methods of collecting data and thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Results The key findings of the study were that most of the mothers that participated in the study were knowledgeable about exclusive breastfeeding through teachings from health staffs at the hospital, friends, churches as well as husbands working from hospitals. While most of them were aware, not everyone practiced exclusive breastfeeding. As regards to the challenges that nursing mothers face in practicing exclusive breastfeeding, this study established that challenges such as house