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Scholars Journal of Applied Medical Sciences | Volume-3 | Issue-01
Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices in Three Communities in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area
Alex-Hart BA, Opara PI
Published: March 27, 2015 |
182
119
DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i01.023
Pages: 100-104
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Abstract
Optimal infant and young child feeding is the key to their optimal growth and development. This paper aimed
to evaluate infant and young child feeding practices among mothers in Alakahia, Choba and Aluu communities in ObioAkpor Local Government Area (LGA). This was a cross sectional community based study conducted in Alakahia, Choba
and Aluu communities in Obio-Akpor LGA in Port Harcourt Metropolis between January to April 2014. A 22 itemed
structured questionnaire was administered to mothers whose last babies were between 0 to 23 months old. Questions
asked covered infant and young child feeding practices and socio-demographics. Data was analyzed using SPSS version
17 statistical software. Three hundred and sixty five mother child pairs participated in this study; mean age of mothers
(years) and babies (months) were 29.04±3.77SD and 8.688±7.33SD respectively. Three hundred and fifty five (97.2%)
babies were breastfed. Exclusive breastfeeding rate before 4 months, between 4 to 6 months, at 6 months and after 6
months were 33.3%, 27.1%, 22.5% and 17.7% respectively. Two hundred and four (55.9%) babies received
complementary feeds before 6 months of age. Majority (80%) of the mothers who stopped breastfeeding before the
survey, stopped when their babies were between 6 to 12 months old. Ninety seven (26.6%) babies were bottle fed. Social
class of parents had no relationship with exclusive breastfeeding (p=0.498) or bottle feeding (p=0.792). Infant and young
child feeding practices among mothers in Alakahia, Choba and Aluu communities were sub-optimal.