Effect of breast and complementary feeding knowledge and practices among nursing mothers in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State

Oguaju Bridget Nwamaka (MPH)

Department of Health and Physical Education

Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, Anambra State-Nigeria

International Journal of Science and Engineering Technology (IJRSET)

Oasis International Journal series

Vol. 1 No. 1

December 2016

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Abstract 

Good breast and complementary feeding is essential for all infants as their growth rate development determined by the quality of breast and complementary feeding the received during the early stages in life. Inadequate breast and complementary feeding affects child’s growth and development in all ramifications. Since infants depend on their mothers principally for good breast and complementary feeding to survive this study examines the effect of breast and complementary feeding knowledge and practice among nursing mothers in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State. The study adopted descriptive survey design. The study adopted descriptive survey design. It has a population of 282 mothers of age who were nursing children between birth and 24 months of age who were available for post natal and immunization services at the primary health centres in the area. Instrument for data collection was structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurements of infants. It was face validated and pilot tested for reliability test to test strategy. Four research questions were projected and answered. Frequency and percentages was used in answering the research question. The result showed an adequate breast and complementary feeding knowledge and practices of nursing mothers in the area. It was also observed that the complementary food combinations of mothers were adequate in energy and nutrients, though they lack variety. Most of the infants also had adequate good health status. The researcher recommended among others that appropriate health education be given to nursing mothers for them to have knowledge and adequate infant feeding care practices that will promote good health of their children.

Keywords: Breastfeeding, complementary, feeding, mothers, practices


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