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Human milk is the preferred milk for all infants, including premature and sick newborns, with rare expectation. It is a secretion of the mammary gland of changing compositions. It changes with time of day and during the course of lactation. It consists of nutrients, such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrate, minerals, vitamins and trace elements. Breastfeeding is the normal way of providing young infants with the nutrient theyneed for healthy growth and development, it is one of the effective ways to ensure child health and survival. It is the best source of nourishment for infant and young children. It contributes to the health and well-being of mothers, it helps to space children, reduces the rate of ovarian cancer and breast cancer, increases family and natural resources, it is a secure way of feeding and safe for the environment. It is a natural act and also a learned behavior.
Breastfeeding is also the feeding of babies and young children with milk from a woman’s breast and it begins within the first hour of a baby’s life and continue as often and as much as the wants.(WHO 2003) Exclusive breastfeeding can be defined as a practice whereby the infants receive only breast milk without mixing it with water, other liquids, tea, herbal preparations or food in the first six months of life, with the exception of vitamins, mineral supplements or medicines Exclusive breastfeeding as defined by WHO and UNICEF is the practice whereby an infant receives only breast milk from a mother or a wet nurse or expressed breast milk. (Jeewon, n.d.) Both WHO and UNICEF recommended that mothers should breastfeed their child exclusively for the first 6months and continue breastfeeding up to 2 years. (Jeewon, n.d.)Exclusive breastfeeding is the process of feeding the infant only breast milk without inclusion of solids or other liquids. (Danso, 2012)
Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months provides infants with protection against gastro intestinal infections and iron deficiency anemia. It is also the optimal method of infant feeding. (Six months of exclusive breastfeeding recommendation: how applicable is the universal exclusive breastfeeding recommendation policy, n.d.) According to world health organization (WHO), a mother should introduce exclusive breastfeeding to the child for the first six month of age and continuation of breastfeeding with the gradual introduction of complementary foods at least the age of two.(Six months of exclusive breastfeeding recommendation: how applicable is the universal exclusive breastfeeding recommendation policy, n.d.) Complementary feeding refers to the process starting when breast milk alone is no longer sufficient to meet the nutritional requirement to infants, and therefore other foods and liquids are introduced to the Infant, along with breast milk. It covers time of introduction of solid and semi-solid foods or soft foods, frequency of feeding, dietary diversity, consumption of iron-rich foods and continued breast feeding among children 6-24 months old. (Nousiainen, n.d.)
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Complementary feeding is also the transition of an infant from exclusive breastfeeding to a family diet through the introduction of solid and semi-solid foods with increasing amount, frequency and variety as the child gets older while maintaining frequent breastfeeding. It is a significant determinant of the nutritional status of infants. It is during this period of transition from exclusive breastfeeding to family foods that the incidence of malnutrition rises sharply resulting in deficits that are hard to compensate for in later childhood and in life. (Victoria et al; 2008) Complementary feeding is the period during which a young child diet is expanded and it depend on milk as the unique source of nutrition is ended, it is important to introduce solid foods at the age of six months. Reasons for this are that, apart from the fact that solid food provide in increases nutrition to complete daily needs, it might then be difficult for the baby to accept the new tastes and textures of food later in life. The WHO has defined Complimentary Feeding as the period during which other foods or liquid are provided along with breast milk. The world health organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recommend introduction of solid food to infants at the age of 6 months. This timing is determined by physiological factor (Guide, 2012)
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Lack of appropriate complementary feeding (CF),is a problem which directly or indirectly contributes to malnutrition, infectious illness and mortality in infants.
The incidence of malnutrition rises sharply between the ages of 6-18 months (WHO, 2001)(Infant and Young Child Feeding A tool for assessing national practices , n.d.) with maximum under nutrition occurring at 8-11 months of age (Vir, 2001). The NFHS-2 (1998-99) also reports a 5 fold increase in under nutrition prevalence from 6 months to 23 months of age. (No Title, n.d.)The prevalence of diarrhoea, fever, cough and acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) was 48, 42, 39 and 12% respectively. The percent of infants underweight, stunted and wasted were 27.1, 24.5 and 16.5%, respectively using WHO (2006) standards. Poor feeding practices are a serious obstacle to attaining and maintaining health of this age group. (No Title, n.d.) About 220 000 child lives could be saved every year with promotion of optimal breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding . (No Title, n.d.) Under nutrition in the 6-23 month age group in developing countries is a direct consequence of caregiver complementary feeding practices. (No Title, n.d.) The description of this correlates of breastfeeding and complementary feeding practice hence will be an important step in facilitating the formulation of interventions to address situation.
JUSTIFICATION
Promotion of exclusive breastfeeding is a major public health concern. It reduces the risk of Under nutrition and overweight later in childhood (SCN, 2006).
Breastfed children are healthier and have fewer hospitalizations than non-breastfed children. (No Title, n.d.)Promotion of breastfeeding must be seen as a priority for the improvement of the health. Complementary feeding period and associated practices plays the most significance role in the development of an infant and young child. (No Title, n.d.) It is the period in which appropriate interventions can result in tangible gains . (No Title, n.d.) The study intended to identify specific factors influencing complementary feeding practices. Infants and young children are at an increased risk of malnutrition from six months of age onwards, when breast milk alone is no longer sufficient to meet all their nutritional requirements and complementary feeding should be started. Initiating complementary feeds too early or too late can lead to malnutrition. The early introduction of complementary feeds before the age of six months can lead to displacement of breast milk and increased risk of infections such as diarrhoea, which further contributes to weight loss and malnutrition. Therefore this study wants to enlighten and increase the knowledge of care givers/mothers towards the benefits of good and early exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF EXCLUSIVE BREAST FEEDING
Breastfeeding served and continues to serve as an appropriate method through which newborns are offered essential nutrients necessary for optimal growth and intellectual development. And it is regarded as perfect, natural and protective food for newborns. Given that its prolong people’s lives (by reducing mortality) and preventing disease (by reducingmorbidity) are some of the goals of public health. (Seidu & Stade, n.d.)Exclusive breastfeeding has been acknowledged as an effective approach to the achievement of these goals. In a study by Vennemann and colleagues. (Child & Programmes, 2011)breastfeeding was found to be protective against sudden infant death syndrome by reducing the risk by 50% at all ages during infancy; these benefits have been reported to exhibit dose-response relationship, that is, health gains increases with increases in duration and exclusivity. Infants when exclusively breastfed for the optimal duration of six months are significantly protected against the major childhood diseases conditions viz. diarrhoea, gastrointestinal tract infection, allergic diseases, diabetes, obesity, childhood leukaemia and lymphoma, inflammatory and bowel disease . (Danso, 2012)
In particular, the risk of hospitalization for lower respiratory tract infections during the first year of life is reduced by 72% when infants are exclusively breastfed for more than 4months (Danso, 2012)also found exclusive breastfeeding to be protective against single and recurrent incidences of otitis media. Infants who were given supplementary foods prior to 4 months had 40% more episodes of otitis media than their counterparts.In the developing world where access to antiviral drugs for HIV infected women is stilldifficult, exclusive breastfeeding will be helpful in minimizing HIV 1 transmissions; this was found in a prospective study of 549 HIV infected breastfeeding mothers in South Africa by Coutsoudis and colleagues (Danso, 2012) After adjusting for possible confounders, the researchers found a significantly lower risk of HIV-1 transmission in children who were exclusively breastfed for up to 3 months in contrast with those who had complementary feeding prior to 3months. Mothers who exclusively breastfeed their children also enjoy an advantage of prolong lactational amenorrhoea (Danso, 2012). The risk of breast and ovarian cancer among breastfeeding women is also lower than those who use infant formula (Danso, 2012).
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
AIM The aim of the study is to assess exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices of mothers/primary care givers of children between the ages of 6-23months in Osogbo metropolis.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
To assess mothers’/primary care givers’ knowledge and perceptions on exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices in Osogbo metropolisTo assess exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices of mothers/ primary care givers of children aged 6-23monthTo identify the factors that influence the practice of Exclusive Breastfeeding and Complementary feeding of mothers/primary care givers of children aged 6-23month among respondent1.6 RESEARCH QUESTIONS1) What knowledge do mothers/primary care givers have on exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices?2) What are the perceptions of mothers/primary care givers on exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding?3) What are the factors influencing the practice of exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Discussion about breast milk often focuses on the way it can promote both short-and-long term healths for babies. The study looked at an optimal group, in which the majority breastfed as recommended, and compared it to a suboptimal group, in which mothers breastfed for loss than recommended. The study covered a wide range of conditions which affect both mothers and children. As well as looking at adult conditions such as breast cancer, pre-meno paucal ovarian cancer and hypertension and also conditions. That affect student such as ear infections, crohr’s diseases, ulcerative colitis etc.This study will provide information that can be used for nutritional surveillance and targeting programme that will focus more on populations most affected.Goal four of the eight Millennium Development Goals is entirely devoted to reducing childmortality by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015; with less than 2 years to 2015, however,progress in many Africa countries is insufficient in achieving this goal. Poor feeding practices such as sub-optimal breastfeeding is still widespread and often leads to malnutrition which is a major cause of more than half of all child deaths. (Seidu & Stade, n.d.)By studying and bringing 18 out the influences of family on breastfeeding practices to the fore, this study will be salutary; as it will contribute to a better understanding of how essential health interventions with proven empirical efficacy such as EBF can be promoted. It is also hoped that this study’s outcome will contribute to the growing body of scientific knowledge on infant feeding practices and how to design and situate health interventions in rural communities.
Moreover, this research will in no doubt serve as a basis for future research.1.8 SCOPE OF THE STUDY Breastfeeding confers numerous health – related benefits to both infants and their mothers. The World Health Organization (WHO) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend that infants should be exclusively breastfeed from birth to 6 months of age, barring contraindications.
