BJAR British Journal of Advanced Research BJAR 3153-709X Ivory and Finch Publishers 10.68263/BJAR-M7R26FHD BJAR_SEP_26_071 Original Research Article Caregivers’ Attitudes Towards Childcare in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria Oluwafemi Awosemusi Akinwaleola Department of Public Health, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria akinwaleoluwafemi12345@gmail.com Oyerinde Oyesegun Adeleke University, Ede Precious Omodele Morenike Adeleke University, Ede Inioluwa Sharon Sharon Adeleke University, Ede 10 10 2026 1 4

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.

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