Abstract: Under-5 mortality of children remains a substantial public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. Unfortunately, some of these childhood diseases (diarrhea, pneumonia and malaria) and deaths are preventable through provision of affordable and cost-effective interventions. The study was health facility-based cross-sectional study conducted from February to July 2021 in four Primary Health Centers in Lafia Local Government Area Nasarawa state. Two hundred randomly selected mothers with children aged 6-23 months were included in the study. Structured questionnaires were developed to assess care seeking behaviours, hygiene and feeding practices among the mothers. Data was analyzed using an SPSS version 21.0 statistical software. The level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05. The majority (46%) of mothers were aged between 20-29years, 32% were civil servants, 45% had secondary education, The results shows that the main (78%) source of water was borehole, 82% stores water in plastics, 78%, 44% uses traditional pit toilet and refuse bin for waste disposal respectively. Furthermore, the study shows 80% of mothers practiced good handwashing. Two-third (60%) of the mothers always boiled water before drinking, 75% sometimes used cup or spoon for feeding babies while 42% always sterilized feeding bottles. Majority (78%) of the mothers seek care at hospital/clinic, 90% attended antenatal clinic, 48% delivered at home/TBA, 74% uses insecticides Treated Net (ITN). Out of the 45 mothers who did not use ITN, majority (96.2%) indicated it was not available. More than two-third mothers continued breastfeeding during child illness while 66% stopped continued complementary feeding. This study determined the care seeking behavior and hygiene practice of mothers with children 6-23months. Care-seeking and hygienic behavior was good among the mothers with most having appropriate behavior. Measures should be taken to help promote awareness among those who did not have appropriate treatment seeking behavior.Abstract: Under-5 mortality of children remains a substantial public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. Unfortunately, some of these childhood diseases (diarrhea, pneumonia and malaria) and deaths are preventable through provision of affordable and cost-effective interventions. The study was health facility-based cross-sectional study...Show More
