Abstract:
The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first six months of life has remained low
worldwide and in Ghana, despite strong evidence in support of its practice. This study was aimed at assessing the
knowledge and practice of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers in the Tamale metropolis of Ghana.
Methods: In a descriptive cross-sectional study, 393 mother-infant pairs attending child welfare clinics from three
health facilities in the Tamale Metropolis were surveyed. A structured item questionnaire was used to collect data
on the socio-demographic Characteristics of the participants, their knowledge regarding breastfeeding and level of
practice of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). The results were presented in frequency counts, percentages and inferences
were made using a contingency table and chi-square values were computed to check for the relationship between
participants demographic characteristics, the Knowledge and the practice of EBF and P value was set at 0.05.
Results: The Analysis of the data was done with SPSS version 20. The study surveyed a total of 393 mothers from
Tamale metropolis, of whom 27.7% reported having exclusively breastfed their infant for the first 6 months of life. The
socio-demographic of the participants showed that they all had some level of education. The study revealed that 39.
4% initiated breastfeeding within one hour after birth. Majority of participants had heard of EBF 277 (70.5%), about 344
(87.5%) of participants believed that EBF should be practised for 5 months in their locality. Pearson Chi-square test of
the association between sociodemographic characteristics associated and EBF showed a significant association
between EBF and the sex of the child, X2 = 4.177, P = .041. Whiles, EBF and the Knowledge on child spacing was X2 =
17.769, P < .001 and EBF and knowledge on Breast cancer reduction was also significant X2 = 4.384, P = .036.
Conclusions: Although all the participants had some level of education background, a majority did not have adequate
knowledge on EBF and EBF practice was low in the study community. Thus, we suggest improved education at
the child welfare clinics and the media should be used as a platform to educate women adequately about
importance of EBF.
