Background: For almost all infants, breastfeeding remains the simplest, healthiest and least expensive feeding method that
fulfils the infants’ needs. Despite strong evidence in support of Exclusive breast feding (EBF) for the first six months of
life, its prevalence has remained low worldwide.
Methodology: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study involving women of child bearing age in Kware town of Sokoto
State. One in eight samples of 179 mother-child pairs were selected and information regarding their knowledge and practice
of exclusive breastfeeding obtained using a set of structured interviewer administered questionnaires.
Results: A total of 54(31%) of the mothers had adequate knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding with 94(53%) of them
initiating breastfeeding immediately after birth. Only 55(31%) of the mothers practiced exclusive breastfeeding. Out of the
53 mothers that stopped breastfeeding, 85% of them did so between 16-20months.
Conclusion: Although breastfeeding was universal in this community, the knowledge and practice of EBF was low. There
is a need to institute interventions aimed at early initiation of breastfeeding and improving the knowledge and practice of
EBF towards achieving the goals of MDG-4 in the study community