Infant Feeding Practices Among Nursing Mothers

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Nutrition related problems affect the populace but the infants and women are most susceptible to this condition. The unique phy¬siology of the infants, socioeconomic factor, and other related factors in the society might be implicated. Available data shows that more than 2billion individuals are affected with different degrees of nutritional related problems. Children that are up to 2.6million die yearly following nutrition related problem. This accounts for about one third of childrenÂ’s deaths globally. Stunted children are highest in number in Nigeria which makes Nigeria to have the highest stunted rate in Africa and third globally having above 10 million citizens who are stunted. Within the first 1,000days of life, malnutrition accounts for over one-third of deaths among the infants years and half of all child deaths worldwide (Malnutrition and Child Survival in Nigeria, 2016). 

North-Eastern and North-Western parts of Nigeria where most of the food consumed in Nigeria are cultivated have the increased number of cases of nutritional deficiencies as compared to other zones (Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, 2016). This depicts that food production does not translate to food consumption. Several infants would have developed micronutrient deficiencies before they reach the age of 2years to the extent that their growth and development become impaired. Children from families living below the poverty line have been proven to be at risk of malnutrition four times more than people living above the poverty line. The children from homes that are not poor too can be malnourished when the food intake is not adequately and well combined. Food insecurity has been found to be closely linked to hunger and malnutrition. 39% of people living in Nigeria are considered to be living below the poverty live.

The North-East and North-Western zones of Nigeria have witnessed a lot of insurgents and the Niger Delta region too has been troubled by militancy acts. These acts transform to the increase in malnutrition rate among citizens in Nigerian because farming activities are hindered in these regions. This is often clearly seen among the internally displaced persons (IDP) living in IDP camps in the North-Eastern and North Western zones of Nigeria. People are now confined to the IDP camps where they are made to struggle for little rations of food available for consumption. Farming activities/ food production becomes completely paralyzed. The largest percentage of people that bear these burdens are the infants, women and the elderly.

There are also cases of food availability but inability of the illiterate parents and caregivers to combine the food sources correctly and give adequate diet to the infants still bring about malnutrition. Harmful traditional practices in the community can also affect the infant feeding and that of the family as a whole which then translate to that of the entire nation. The intellectual development of the child is at stake when there is poor nutritional intake (UNICEF, 2016).

Managing the incessant illnesses of children places economic burden on the family and government because the money spent on these nutritional-related diseases (which would have been prevented) could be used for other developmental projects (Kitinya, 2013). Poor school performance and lower productivity could also be the impact of poor nutritional status on the society. As a result of the magnitude of the identified problem, the researcher is set to assess the major determinants of nutritional status among infants in Comprehensive Health Centre, Ado-Ekiti. 

1.3 Objective of the Study

The main objective of this study is to assess infant feeding practices among nursing mothers in Okeyinmi Comprehensive Health Centre, Ado-Ekiti. The specific objectives are to:

1. assess infant feeding using anthropometric measurements in Okeyinmi Comprehensive Health Centre, Ado-Ekiti;

2. find out the level of awareness of nursing mothers about infant feeding;

3. assess the factors that influence the infant feeding and

4. find out the feeding practices engaged in by nursing mothers of infants.