Infant Feeding Options among HIV Positive Mothers Attending Selected General Hospitals in Lagos

Abstract

Background: Mother-to-child transmission of HIV is the primary cause of pediatric HIV infections. The global burden of HIV lies in sub- Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. This study is on assessment of the feeding options among HIV positive mothers attending selected general hospitals in Lagos.

Methods: Quantitative study that utilized a multistage sampling method to select 214 respondents from two General Hospitals in Lagos. The reliability r = 0.75. Descriptive and inferential statistics were presented at a 5% level of significance.

Results: Revealed that 94% of the respondents were married, 77.2% were working, 88.1% have good knowledge on mother-to-child transmission of HIV and 96.0% have good practice of breastfeeding. The Association between knowledge of breastfeeding and practice was significant X² =5.22; p < 0.05 (0.02). Association between exclusive breastfeeding practice and factors affecting exclusive breastfeeding X² = 14.19; p < 0.05 (0.00); X² = 9.89; p < 0.05 (0.000 while some factors have no significant association with X² =; 0.10 p > 0.05 (0. 77); X2 1-28; p > 0.05 (0. 27); X² = 0.00; p > 0.05 (0.99).

Conclusion: The use of expressed breast milk for infant`s feeding was still very low among the respondents. There is a need to educate HIV mothers on feeding options for their infants during antenatal clinics.

Keywords: Infant Feeding Options; HIV Positive Mothers