MEN’S KNOWLEDGE OF NUTRITIONAL NEEDS DURING BREASTFEEDING IN SELECTED RURAL AREAS OF ORIIRE AND SURULERE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF OYO STATE.

This research assessed men’s knowledge and understanding of nutrition during breastfeeding in rural areas of Surulere and Oriire Local Government Areas, Oyo State, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was administered to 260 male respondents through face-to-face interviews to collect data. The results revealed significant variations in men’s knowledge regarding essential dietary practices breastfeeding mothers. While many respondents recognized the importance of specific food groups and nutrients, substantial gaps in understanding specific dietary requirements and breastfeeding practices were observed. Socio-demographic factors such as age, education, and occupation were found to influence men’s knowledge and attitudes toward maternal nutrition. Barriers to involvement included limited access to information and cultural perceptions that view pregnancy and breastfeeding as primarily women’s responsibilities. The statistical analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics were used to describe socio-demographic factors, with frequencies and percentages representing men’s knowledge levels: good knowledge (70%), fair knowledge (40-69%), and poor knowledge (40%). Men’s responses were categorized into these knowledge levels based on their answers to key nutrition-related questions. Inferential statistics explored the relationships between socio-demographic variables (such as education and age) and men’s nutritional knowledge, revealing significant differences in knowledge levels between Oriire and Surulere local governments. The findings underscore the need for targeted educational interventions that involve men in maternal and child health initiatives to bridge knowledge gaps and improve support for maternal nutrition.