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Original Research Article

Caregivers’ Attitudes Towards Childcare in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Akinwaleola Oluwafemi Awosemusi, Oyesegun Oyerinde, Morenike Precious Omodele, Sharon Inioluwa Sharon

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Akinwaleola Oluwafemi Awosemusi

Department of Public Health, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria

Received
29 Sep 2026
Published
10 Oct 2026

Abstract

Background: Maternal attitudes towards childcare shape practices such as breastfeeding, immunisation, and care-seeking that are critical to child survival and development, yet the specific attitudinal profile of mothers in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria, remains under-documented. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study assessed attitudes towards childcare among 403 mothers attending two health facilities in Ado-Ekiti, selected via stratified systematic random sampling. Attitudes were measured across twelve items on a five-point Likert scale covering breastfeeding, immunisation, nutrition, hygiene, traditional medicine, religious beliefs, and healthcare-seeking behaviour. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA at p < 0.05. Results: Attitudes towards core childcare practices were overwhelmingly positive: breastfeeding (99.5% combined agreement), immunisation importance (99.3%), good nutrition (99.5%), and prompt care-seeking when a child is sick (98.0%). Support for exclusive breastfeeding for six months was more moderate (67.0%), with 26.5% undecided. Belief in traditional herbal medicine for treating sick children was low (20.1%), while belief that a child’s health is determined by God received majority endorsement (87.8%). The mean attitude score was 48.74 (SD = 5.02) of 60 (81.2%). Attitude scores varied significantly across age, marital status, education, religion, occupation, income, number of children, distance from facility, and insurance status (p < 0.001 for all), though attitudes were not an independent predictor of maternal healthcare utilisation in a related regression analysis (p = 0.42). Conclusion: Mothers in Ado-Ekiti hold strongly positive attitudes towards evidence-based childcare practices, suggesting that low utilisation of some maternal services reflects practical and structural barriers rather than attitudinal deficits. Ambivalence towards exclusive breastfeeding and strong religious fatalism represent specific attitudinal targets for health education.

Keywords: Maternal Attitudes, Childcare Practices, Breastfeeding, Immunisation, Religious Beliefs, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
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How to Cite

APA

Awosemusi, A. O., Oyerinde, O., Omodele, M. P., & Sharon, S. I. (2026). Caregivers’ Attitudes Towards Childcare in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. British Journal of Advanced Research, 1(4), Article 029. https://doi.org/10.68263/BJAR-M7R26FHD

MLA

Awosemusi, Akinwaleola Oluwafemi, Oyesegun Oyerinde, Morenike Precious Omodele, and Sharon Inioluwa Sharon. "Caregivers’ Attitudes Towards Childcare in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria." British Journal of Advanced Research, vol. 1, no. 4, 2026, article 029. DOI: https://doi.org/10.68263/BJAR-M7R26FHD

Chicago

Awosemusi, Akinwaleola Oluwafemi, Oyesegun Oyerinde, Morenike Precious Omodele, and Sharon Inioluwa Sharon. "Caregivers’ Attitudes Towards Childcare in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria." British Journal of Advanced Research 1, no. 4 (2026): 029. https://doi.org/10.68263/BJAR-M7R26FHD

References

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Metadata
ISSN 3153-709X
Tracking ID BJAR_SEP_26_071
Article No. 029
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Article Info
Journal BJAR
Volume Vol 1, No 4
Year 2026
Type Original Research Article
Licence CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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