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Factors affecting practices and attitude of nursing mothers towards exclusive breastfeeding of their infants 0-12 months in Ihioma Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State
Abstract
Background: Inappropriate infant feeding practices has long been observed in our society and it is one of the global problems responsible for about one-third of the cases of malnutrition worldwide.
Objective: This study assessed the factors affecting practice and attitude of nursing mothers towards exclusive breastfeeding of their infants (0-12 months) in Ihioma Orlu Local Government Area Imo State.
Methodology: A total of 331 Nursing mothers paired with their children 0 – 12 months were randomly selected using open ballot selection, from households in Ihioma Orlu L.G.A, Imo State. A structured questionnaire was administered to the Nursing mothers to obtain information relevant to the study. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi square analysis to determine the relationship between variables at significant level p=0.05 using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22.
Result: Result shows that 49.5% of Nursing mothers aged 30-39years, 72.2% were married, 56.5% had higher institution, 47.4% were civil servant, 20.8% trader, 42.3% earned a monthly income of ₦10,000-₦30,000, 35.3% of mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour after delivery, 56.5% discard Colostrum, 59.2% practice exclusive breastfeeding, with 55.5% breastfed exclusively for a duration of first six months of birth, 32.6% fed the children on only breast milk, 25.1% on complementary food, 16.0% on only infant formula, 66.5% introduce other foods other than breast milk to the child at 6 months after delivery, 73 (22.1%) were delivered through cesarean section, 60 (18.1%) of the children were born with low birth weight (Less than 2.5kg). There is significant relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and age of children (X2=11.164; P=0.001), age of mothers (X2=11.755; P=0.019), initiation of breastfeeding after delivery(X2=38.570; P<0.001), birth weight (X2=12.569; P=0.028) and type of food fed to the child(X2=57.539: P<0.001).
Conclusion: This study depicted high prevalence of inappropriate infant feeding practices among mothers, were initiation of breast feeding, type of food fed to the child, age of mother and child are the observed factors affecting practice of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers in the study area.
