Weaning Practices and Nutritional Status of Infants in Isoko North and South Local Government Areas in Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the weaning practices of mothers and the nutritional status of infants in Isoko North and South Local Government Areas in Delta State, Nigeria. The population consisted of mothers who had up to two children including infants from various occupational groups. A sample of 300 mothers was randomly selected. Questionnaire was used for data collection. The anthropometry used was the height and weight of the infants. The percentage of the responses to each of the questionnaire items was calculated. Findings showed that most of the mothers started weaning their infants in the fourth month. The mothers gave commercial and home made weaning foods to their babies “on demand”. Others practised “scheduled feeding”. The major weaning foods given to the infants are banana, corn
pap, cerelac. It was observed that some of the infants had normal nutritional status. Others were malnourished. It was recommended among others that the mothers should be encouraged to wean their babies with legumes, green leafy vegetables, soymilk, fish and fruits to enhance their nutritional status.