TY - JOUR ID - 138472 TI - Barriers to Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice among Rural and Urban Mothers in Nigeria: A Systematic Review JO - International Journal of Medical Reviews JA - IJMR LA - en SN - 2345-525X AU - Alabi, Temitope John AU - Elefane, Kryl Ann AD - Independent Researcher, Opposite Light House Academy, Makutu, Isanlu Makutu AD - Independent Researcher, Opposite Light House Academy, Makutu, Isanlu Makutu. Y1 - 2021 PY - 2021 VL - 8 IS - 3 SP - 108 EP - 115 KW - Exclusive Breastfeeding KW - National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control KW - National Policy on Food and Nutrition KW - Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis KW - International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews KW - World Health Organization DO - 10.30491/ijmr.2020.231196.1112 N2 -  Introduction: There have been several policies backed up by improved national legislations designed to promote exclusive breastfeeding in the country, however the practice is still low and is actually declining. Therefore, there is a need to synthesize the barriers to this practice in order to serve as a resource for reviewing and strengthening the existing policies. The aim of this study was to review and synthesize the barriers to exclusive breastfeeding practice among rural and urban mothers in Nigeria.Methods: Databases such as PubMed and African Journal Online were searched with keywords and synonyms related to the topic. Similar concepts were thereafter organized into themes through reciprocal translations followed by reading and interpretations.Results: The key barriers to exclusive breastfeeding reported in the study include wrong perceptions and practices, low parental socio-economic status and poor spousal support. The identified gaps in the existing knowledge were inadequate support for less reported breastfeeding problems such as sore nipples, inadequate lactation rooms and creches in public and private workplaces, and inadequate enlightenment campaigns about exclusive breastfeeding practice in the country.Conclusion: This study has reviewed and synthesized the barriers to exclusive breastfeeding among rural and urban mothers across the six geopolitical zones of the country. Consequently, it advocates, among other recommendations, for the full implementation of the National Policy on Food and Nutrition and improvement in the quality of services rendered in the antenatal and postnatal clinics across the country through regular training of health workers. Finally, it encourages the funding of studies into complaints of fatigue in the course of adopting exclusive breastfeeding.  UR - https://www.ijmedrev.com/article_138472.html L1 - https://www.ijmedrev.com/article_138472_9379b5f3f2c9f19467986d8d2ab6fea3.pdf ER -