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Objective: To ensure complete adhesion of primiparous women with exclusive breastfeeding, we need to understand the factors influencing this practice. The objective of this study was to determine the socioeconomic factors related to exclusive breastfeeding of infants less than six months old born to primiparous mothers.Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study was conducted over a two-month period from 4 June to 6 August 2012 in three health facilities in the city of Abidjan. A total of 188 primiparous women were surveyed by a direct face-to-face questionnaire-based interview technique.Results: The mean age of primiparous women was 26.56 ± 5.05 years. The majority (76.60%) were in a couple relationship and 40.43% had completed higher education. 36.17% of women were working, while 23.94% were students.Only 33.51% of women performed exclusive breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding rates decreased progressively with increasing age of the infant, from 46.67% at the age of one month to 16.67% at the age of six months.Factors associated with failure to perform exclusive breastfeeding were marriage, working in the public or private sector, delivery in a private health facility, delivery by caesarean section, living in Cocody, and lack of knowledge concerning exclusive breastfeeding.Conclusion: It is essential to take socio-economic factors into account when developing strategies designed to increase exclusive breastfeeding rates and maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding until the age of six months among primiparous women in Abidjan.