Mothers’ educational levels as a basic predictor of exclusive breast feeding (EBF) in Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated mothers’ educational levels as a basic predictor of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area, Katsina State, Nigeria with a view to encourage girl child education for child bearing and caring. Descriptive survey research design was used. Four research questions were raised in which two hypotheses were drawn and tested. The population of this study comprised 177 mothers from the eleven political wards of Dutsin-Ma as at August, 2015 and the entire population was used, using cluster sampling technique. A self-developed questionnaire named English and Hausa - Questionnaire on Exclusive Breastfeeding (EH- QEBF) was used. Split-half method of reliability was used, using Spearman-Brown Prophecy Formula, with reliability index of 0.76. Frequency and percentage counts were used for demographic data of the respondents; t-Test was used for analysis at0.05 level of significance. The findings of this study revealed that mothers in Dutsin-Ma community have good knowledge of EBF (160 (90%). Mothers practiced of EBF in Dutsin-Ma community (148 (84%). Inferentially, there is significant difference in the knowledge of EBF among mothers based on their educational levels in Dutsin-Ma community (P=0.004 0.05). There is significant difference in the practices of EBF among mothers based on their educational level in Dutsin-Ma community (P=0.001 0.05). Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that girl-child education should be a top priority still in the State and educated mothers needed more convincing information and lasting encouragement to practice EBF for a healthy society before 2020.