nfant Feeding Practices Among Mothers Delivered At The Jos University Teaching Hospital Intending To Breastfeed Exclusively For Six Months

Abstract

Objective: The practicability of excusive breastfeeding (EBFing) for 6 months by mothers, especially the employed ones, in this country has been a big question to answer considering the short duration of their maternity leave of 3 months around their delivery. Using WHO recommendation as a point of reference, the present study assessed the infant feeding practices of mothers delivered at Jos University Teaching Hospital, (JUTH). Emphasis was moved on the employed ones.

Method: Infant feeding practices was studied prospectively among 461 mothers who delivered in JUTH and who initially intended to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months.

Result: Four hundred and twenty two (91.5%) of the recruited mothers continued EBFing practice for 6 months, while 25 (5.4%) dropped out from the practice before 6 months. Formular feed was introduced by 5(1.1%), water by 13(2.8%), while 7(1.5%) babies were started on solid and semi-solid feeds before 6 months. Seventy six of the eight-two (92.7%) employed mothers continued EBFing practice for up to 6 months. Government employed counterpart (96.6%vs 64.0%), so also was primigravidae more than the grand-multi-gravidae (97.4% vs 80.0%). EBFing was also practiced most by house wives (98.1%) and petty traders (93.9%), and least practiced by business women and students mothers (67.9%) and (51.9%). No significant difference was observed in EBFing practice among mothers from different socio-economic background (92.9%,95.4% and 94.4%) for upper, middle and lower socio-economic class (SEC), and between male and female infants (50.4% Vs 49.6%), P > 0.05.


Keywords: Exclusive Breastfeeding, Employed Mothers, Maternity Leave, Infant Feeding Practices

Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol. 10 (3) 2007 pp. 194-199