IJLTEMAS International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering, Management & Applied Science (IJLTEMAS) IJLTEMAS 2278-2540 IJLTEMAS 481 10.51583/IJLTEMAS.2026.150900130 Public Health A Cross-Sectional Assessment of Caregivers’ Nutritional Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices on Infant Feeding in Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Nigeria Buloimbile Agbowe Happy Department of Community Health Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bayelsa Medical University, Amarata, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria Nigeria Macaulay Tinimoye Dr. Department of Community Health Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bayelsa Medical University, Amarata, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria Nigeria 15 9 2686 2702 30 09 2026 05 10 2026 19 10 2026 Routine Immunization Caregivers Knowledge Attitude Practice Infant Feeding Yenagoa LGA Child Malnutrition. Abstract

Suboptimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices during the first 1,000 days cause irreversible cognitive deficits and childhood morbidity. This descriptive cross-sectional study assessed caregivers' nutritional knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding infant feeding in Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Utilizing a validated interviewer-administered questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha (0.75), data were collected from a multi-stage sample of 422 caregivers of infants aged 0–24 months and analyzed via SPSS version 26.0 using Chi-Square tests and Pearson correlations (p < 0.05). Caregivers exhibited high baseline nutritional knowledge, with 97.4% recognizing exclusive breastfeeding benefits and 100% linking early nutrition to brain development. The overall attitudinal profile was favorable (Aggregate Mean = 3.27 > 2.50 criterion benchmark), demonstrating strong self-efficacy in preparing local foods (x = 4.60) and prioritizing healthcare worker advice (x = 4.41). However, critical misconceptions persisted: caregivers erroneously believed that breast milk alone is insufficient (x = 3.17) and that Bayelsa's hot weather necessitates introducing water before six months (x = 2.57). In practice, handwashing and demand-feeding achieved 100% compliance, but 36.2% of caregivers failed to avoid giving pre-lacteal or extra fluids before six months. The primary operational challenges were economic and socio-cultural, driven by spousal financial deficits (x = 4.43), high market costs of nutritious foods (x = 4.41), and intense domestic pressure from mothers-in-law to give water early (x = 4.26). Inferential tests confirmed that caregiver knowledge and practices are significantly associated with infant health outcomes (p < 0.01). Ultimately, a sharp gap exists between high theoretical knowledge and actual practice. Imparting nutritional education is insufficient without targeted interventions addressing domestic financial dynamics, municipal water utilities, and key family influencers like fathers and grandmothers.

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