Availability and Utilization of Breastfeeding Information by Nursing Mothers in Onitsha Metropolis, Anambra State, Nigeria

The study investigated the availability and utilization of breastfeeding information by nursing mothers in Onitsha Metropolis, Anambra state, Nigeria. Descriptive survey design was used. Population of the study consists of three (3) of the major and highly accessible hospitals in Ontisha Metropolis, Anambra State, namely, General Hospital Onitsha, Holy Rosary Specialist Hospital Waterside and Iyi-Enu Specialist Hospital Ogidi. A total of 220 targeted respondents (nursing mothers) that attended the postnatal clinics of the three hospitals were all used at their various clinics. So a total of 220 questionnaires were distributed to them and 203 were returned out of which 197 (90 %) were duly completed and found usable. Approvals were sought and obtained from the Management of the Hospitals; the intent of the study was also explained to the nursing mothers for their consent before the questionnaires were administered to them. The research questions responded to was analysed using simple percentage and presented in tables. The findings revealed high availability of Information on Breastfeeding. It also showed that Antenatal and postnatal clinics were major sources of information available to the nursing mothers. It was also revealed that the nursing mothers in Onitsha Metropolis of Anambra State engage in exclusive breastfeeding as a result of the information on breastfeeding they received. The result will encourage government at all levels and other stakeholders to continue intensified exclusive breastfeeding sensitization with more emphasis on the rural dwellers whose socioeconomic status are low.