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Abstract
The study focused on the perception of rural farming mothers
on exclusive breastfeeding in Ori-Ade local government area
of Osun state. A purposive sampling technique was used to
select 120 rural farming mothers. Data was collected through
the use of interview guide. Data was analyzed using both
descriptive statistical tools (frequency distribution and
percentage) and inferential statistical tools (Chi-square and
Pearson product moment correlation).The study revealed that
most (77.5%) of the respondents were married, average
household size was 8 persons and (45.0%) had secondary
education. All (100 percent) of the respondents were aware that
babies should be breastfed exclusively for at least six months
while 61.70 percent practised the method. Most (90%) of the
respondents indicated that sensitization could be used to
encourage farming mothers to adopt exclusive breastfeeding
method and 86.70% sourced their information on exclusive
breastfeeding from the hospital. The chi-square result shows
that there was significant relationship between farming
mothers’ marital status, education and their perception of
exclusive breastfeeding practises (χ2 = 0.038, 0.039 at p <
0.05).Conclusively, farming mothers in the study were aware
of exclusive breastfeeding but were not totally practising it.
Most of them were not well informed about exclusive
breastfeeding. It is therefore recommended that rural farming
mothers should be enlighten to enrich their knowledge of
exclusive breast feeding.