Abstract
BackgroundPoor weaning practices have been reported to contribute to high infant mortality and morbidity rates especially in developing countries. ObjectivesThis study sought to determine factors related to weaning that predispose, reinforce and enable mothers of infants younger than age 12 months to comply or not to comply with the World Health Organization (WHO) 2009 guidelines on appropriate infant feeding. MethodsThe present study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on weaning and infant feeding practices from a sample of 300 mothers of infants aged younger than 12 months, resident in the Rujeko community, and registered and seen at the Rujeko Council Clinic during the study time. FindingsThe study results indicated that noncompliance with WHO infant feeding guidelines was high among the study participants. The rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months was very low (14.8%), with the mean age of introduction of complementary foods to infants of 5 weeks (range 1-24 weeks). Early supplementation of breast milk was not associated with mother’s age, level of education, and religion. Scheduled breastfeeding was more prevalent among the mothers who worked outside the home (P = .018). Provision of formal advice and influence from health care workers was found to improve young child feeding and weaning practices among mothers (P = .011). ConclusionsVarious weaning methods were used, and mothers identified numerous factors as impeding their efforts to follow proper breastfeeding practices. The findings highlight the need to develop personal skills among mothers to prepare nutritionally balanced diets.
Highlights
The period from birth to 12 months of age includes the period of breastfeeding and the shift from breast milk to other foods, during which children are at greater risk of developing malnutrition and becoming underweight
Not clear as to what weaning practices were being followed by mothers in Rujeko community and whether these practices were in line with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines because nutritional problems were arising among infants
The distribution of the age of infant at introduction of complementary foods was before 6 months in 207 of 243 infants (85.2%), at 6 months in 36 of 243 (14.8%), and none after 6 months
Summary
The period from birth to 12 months of age includes the period of breastfeeding and the shift from breast milk to other foods (weaning period), during which children are at greater risk of developing malnutrition and becoming underweight. The Word Health Organization[1] recommended new feeding guidelines to be followed by all mothers (both HIV positive and HIV negative) in feeding their babies from birth to 59 months of age These new guidelines promote exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life (especially in developing countries and low-socioeconomic communities where adequate and hygienic replacement feeding might not always be available to complement breast milk), early initiation of breastfeeding (less than 1 hour after birth), and continued breastfeeding with the gradual introduction of appropriate complementary foods (timely, adequate, safe, and properly fed) thereafter.[1] It was, not clear as to what weaning practices were being followed by mothers in Rujeko community and whether these practices were in line with the WHO guidelines because nutritional problems were arising among infants. Poor weaning practices have been reported to contribute to high infant mortality and morbidity rates especially in developing countries
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