ABSTRACT
The study was on determinants of mothers' breastfeeding practices in Kaduna state. Four (4) objectives and four (4) research questions were formulated with three (3) null hypotheses. Survey research design was adopted for the study. The population for the study was drawn from 30 different hospitals in Zaria metropolis. A total population of all nursing mothers who attended ante-natal clinics was, three thousand, two hundred and five (3,205). Simple random sampling was used to draw a sample size of three hundred and twenty one (321) nursing mothers. Structured questionnaire was used in collecting data. Data collected were analyzed using frequencies, mean and percentages. Independent t-test of significant differences was used to analyzed hypotheses one (1), while chi-square of significant relationship was used to analyze hypothesis three (2) and three (3). Findings revealed that exclusive breastfeeding practices was the most frequently used method by nursing mothers in breastfeeding their children. It was also discovered that socio-economic status and levels of nursing mothers' education, was a positive determinants on the mother and child breastfeeding practices. It was concluded that, uneducated mothers find it difficult to adapt to positive changes in breastfeeding patterns and rarely breastfed their children hygienically. Among the recommendations made was the need for health inspectors to visit rural places where nursing mothers are not educated to ensure healthy hygiene practices of exclusive breastfeeding