Socio-demographic factors associated with the practice of exclusive breastfeeding among teenage mothers in Anambra State College of Health Technology, Obosi, Nigeria
DOI:
10.29303/jppipa.v12i9.16342Published:
2026-09-30Downloads
Abstract
In spite of campaigns by global public health organisations on exclusive breastfeeding for optimal infant survival and development, adolescent mothers often encounter significant socio-demographic, physical and psycho-social challenges that hinder exclusive breastfeeding practices. Academic work and the responsibility for children's care come in conflict in institutional environments such as health technology colleges, and the investigation of socio-demographic determinants among student-mothers becomes an important and critical issue in this context. In this study, Socio-demographic factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) among teenage mothers in Anambra State College of Health Technology Obosi, Anambra State, Nigeria were examined. A descriptive cross sectional survey design was used in this study, and 100 teenage mothers aged 16 to 19 years were selected across six departments of study, using multistage sampling technique. A structured questionnaire—validated and well known, called the Sociodemographic Factors Associated with the Practice of Exclusive Breastfeeding Questionnaire (SDFAPEBQ)—was used to collect data and presented high reliability (r=0.82). The descriptive statistics method was used for analysis in SPSS version 27. The results showed that 61.0% of respondents as EBF for six months. The following factors were significantly associated with the higher prevalence of EBF: older age of the teens (18-19 years: 66.7%), the academic level (ND II: 70.4%), marital status (married: 80.6%), and wanting to study only, without any other economic activities (67.7%), multiparity (78.9%). Community Health had the most representation among the departments (28.0%). Overall, a relatively high rate of EBF compliance was observed, which is probably attributed to academic exposure, but socio-demographic factors significantly affected EBF. Targeted institutional and psycho-social support for younger, single and working first-time student-mums should be made a priority in interventions to maintain EBF.
Keywords:
Anambra State Exclusive breastfeeding Health technology students Socio-demographic factors Teenage mothersReferences
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