AWARENESS AND ATTITUDE OF BREASTFEEDING WOMEN TO FRCN’S HEALTH WATCH ON WITHIN ABUJA METROPOLIS

This research is set out to check the influence of FRCN’s “HEALTH WATCH” on the breastfeeding attitudes of women in Abuja, Nigeria. The main objective of the study is to investigate the influence the programme has on the breastfeeding attitudes of women in the FCT. The study also identified the challenges the women encounter as it concerns their breastfeeding attitudes. The study makes use of SPSS method in data analysis and questionnaires distributed in 3 area councils of the FCT which were randomly selected for unbiased results. Findings of the study are summarized as follows: The FRCN programme “health watch” on breastfeeding practices has a good following among nursing mothers in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The programme is aired weekly and has routine followers among the nursing mothers. But some of the nursing mothers are not aware of the programme; For nursing mothers who have listened to the programme, there has been some adjustments in their attitude towards breastfeeding practices The nursing mothers have other sources like Primary Health Care centers, private hospitals, family, partners etc. among others through which such information is accessible to them There are challenges faced by the nursing mothers in the process of obtaining information on breastfeeding practices from the programme which included power supply, timing of the programme among others. The research has therefore recommended that the appropriate authorities looks into improving the challenges highlighted in the research, so as to further improve the breastfeeding attitudes of the women in the FCT. The study should also be replicated in other states of the country, as the importance of appropriate breastfeeding and its benefits cannot be overlooked.