Infant Feeding Practices Among Nursing Mothers

The study assessed the infant feeding practices among nursing mothers using anthropometric measurements, found out the level of awareness of nursing mothers about infant feeding, assessed the factors that influence the infant feeding and found out the feeding practices engaged in by nursing mothers of infants. A cross sectional study was done to assess the infant feeding. Sample size of 216 was determined using Leslie Kish (1965) formula. The respondents were selected using simple random sampling. Weighing scale, stadiometer, and ShakirÂ’s tape were used to get data from the infants while a self-structured questionnaire was used to get data from the primary care givers/nursing mothers of the infants. Face and content validity of the questionnaire were ensured by the researcherÂ’s supervisor and other experts in research and peadiatrics. 

The reliability of the questionnaire was ascertained using test re-test. A mean coefficient value of 0.74 was obtained which was considered high enough for the reliability of the questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using Emergency Nutrition Assessment for Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transition (ENA for SMART) software and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. The research questions and hypotheses were tested through descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings showed that low weight for age (underweight) affects 18.5% of the infants, low height for age (stunting) affects 20.4% of the respondents while low weight for height (wasting) affects 13.4% of the infants. Lack of awareness about the method of feeding the child properly, knowledge on the type of food and non-availability of nutritious food in the locality were found to be major factors affecting the infant feeding. 73% of the primary care givers/nursing mothers practiced exclusive breastfeeding. 43.1% practiced complementary feeding for 12-18months. 

There was significant association between the nutritional status and the age group of the child (F4,211=2.955, p<0.05) but there was no significant relationship between the infant feeding and the socio-economic status of the primary care giver/nursing mothers of the infants (r=0.010, p>0.05). There was need for frequent assessment and early intervention of the nutritional related problems of the infants. The researcher recommended nutritional counselling by Nurses and Nutritionists for the primary care giver/nursing mothers to reduce the prevalence of nutritional related problems, Nurses should take the lead role in educating nursing mothers about the need for exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and complementary feeding for 18-24months and measures should be instituted by the government through provision of needed social amenities to curb the menace of nutritional related problems.