Current Practices In Infant Nutrition In Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

A community based prospective study was carried out amongst 780 mothers who had children aged less than one year in Benin City, between March and June 1998. Study subjects were selected using multistage cluster sampling method while information on child's nutrition: maternal socio-demographic parameters were obtained with the aid of a semi-structured questionnaire. Of the 780 mothers 432 (55.6%) had children who were less than 6 months while 348(44.6%) had older infants. About 98.0% of the mothers were practicing one form of breast-feeding or the other. The exclusive breastfeeding rate (EBR), predominant breastfeeding rate (PBR) and bottle-feed rates (BOTFR) were respectively 38.0% 38.8% and 19.4%. Breastfeeding practice was significantly associated with maternal age (X²=25.8;df=12;P<0.05), maternal education (xy²=16.9;df=6;p<0.05) and socio economic status (Xy² =13.3;df=4;p<0.05). Places of antenatal care in the last pregnancy (Xy²=11.7;df=3;p <0.05) and delivery (Xy² = 13.6;df=3;p<0.05) also significantly influenced breastfeeding practices. Commonly, unfortified complementary feeds (mainly maize gruel) were introduced during early infancy. Current EBR and PBR fall below expectation. Improved maternal education and insistence on used of health facilities for ANC and delivery could improve these rates.

Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol.5(2) 2002: 139-142