Attitude and Practice of Effective Weaning Techniques Among Breastfeeding Mothers Attending General Hospital Koko, Kebbi State, Nigeria

Effective complementary feeding is essential for infant growth, development, and prevention of malnutrition. This study assessed the attitude and practice of effective weaning techniques and identified factors influencing these practices among breastfeeding mothers attending the antenatal clinic at General Hospital Koko, Koko/Besse Local Government Area, Kebbi State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted. The target population comprised 90 eligible breastfeeding mothers with children aged 6–24 months, from which a sample of 73 respondents was obtained using Taro Yamane’s formula. A self-structured 25-item questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, attitude, practice, and influencing factors was used for data collection. The instrument was subjected to face and content validity and test-retest reliability, yielding a reliability coefficient of 0.81. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics with SPSS version 25. All 73 questionnaires were retrieved. Respondents demonstrated a generally positive attitude toward effective weaning techniques, with a grand mean of 3.0. They also reported positive weaning practices, with a grand mean of 3.0, particularly in hygienic preparation of foods, hand hygiene, introduction of complementary foods at six months, and avoidance of harmful foods. Financial status was the most strongly identified influencing factor (mean = 3.3), followed by lack of knowledge and health workers’ advice (mean = 3.0 each). The study concludes that although mothers demonstrated favourable attitudes and reported appropriate practices, economic constraints, knowledge gaps, family influence, and other contextual factors may affect effective weaning. Strengthening nutrition education and counselling through antenatal and community-based services is recommended.