KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND ADOPTION OF APPROPRIATE FEEDING PRACTICES BY MOTHERS AND ANTHROPOMETRIC INDICES OF THEIR CHILDREN IN AGUATA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ANAMBRA STATE
ABSTRACT
This study was designed to assess the knowledge, attitude and adoption of appropriate infant
feeding practices of mothers and the anthropometric indices of their children. Three hundred and
seventy three mothers who attended infant welfare clinics at the three health settings (General
hospital Ekwulobia, Primary health care Ekwulobia, and Primary health care Akpo) all in Aguata
L.G.A were involved in the study. The study evaluated the nutritional status of the infants in
relation to their anthropometric indices. Also infant feeding practices of mothers in the locality was
assessed. A validated semi-structured questionnaire by experts at the Department of Home
Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka was used to elicit information on
socio-economic characteristics of the mothers and their children. Results showed that age of the
mothers involved in the study ranged from less than 20 years to 41 years and above. The mothers
were mostly civil servants (29.50%), traders (29.30%), skilled workers (16.90%), housewives
(16.60%) and unskilled workers (9.40%). Household size of 3-4 members dominated (38.90%) of
population studied. On the average, 67.74% of the mothers had correct knowledge of infant feeding
guidelines which means that mothers were knowledgeable on the infant feeding guidelines. Most
mothers (67.60%) received information on breastfeeding through the midwives and nurses where
they attended antenatal clinic. A total of (47.70%) of the mothers ever adopted exclusive
breastfeeding for different periods of time. A total of (43.40%) stopped breastfeeding their babies
after 12 months of age followed by (21.70%) who stopped breastfeeding after 15 months of age of
the child. Only 19.30% and 13.90% stopped breastfeeding their babies after 9 months and 6 months
of age respectively. Anthropometric indices (length and weight) were used to assess the nutritional
status of the children.
The boys were taller and heavier than the girls in all age groups except age
19-24 months. A total of 22.62% of males and 21.26% of the females were stunted. About 7.54%
of the males and 14.37% of the females were wasted. A total of 12.06% males and 7.4% females
were undernourished. There was positive and significant (r = 0.7714: P<0.0001) correlation
between age and weight of the children as well as their length and age (r = 0.7937: P<0.0001).
Breastfeeding was the predominant infant feeding method among the mothers. There was no
significant (P>0.05) difference between the weight and length of children fed breast milk only and
those fed breast milk plus formula; breast milk and other foods. There was a significant (P<0.05)
difference in the length and weight of males and females, within 0-6 months of age while there was
no significant (P>0.05) difference in their weight and body mass index (BMI). For those within 7-
12 months of age there was no significant (P>0.05) difference in their length, while there was
significant (P<0.05) difference in their weight and BMI.