Psychosocial care in complementary feeding of children: a comparative study of the urban and rural communities of Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated psychosocial care in complementary feeding of children under two years of age. The cross‐sectional study was carried out in Osun State of Nigeria within Sub‐Saharan Africa, and 450 mothers were interviewed of which 337 were from the urban and 113 from the rural communities. Results revealed that 37.4% of the respondents work outside their home while 46.7% work for more than eight hours in a day. About 77% care for their children all the time while only 23.1% used care alternatives. Complementary feeds are usually introduced as early as one month (2.6%) and those who started at six months were only 37.3%. Mothers combined the use of feeding bottles and cups and spoons for feeding (37.4%) while 15.2% exclusively used feeding bottles for feeding. About 75.1% of children cried before they were fed while mothers observed refusal of food as a sign of fullness when children were fed. The number of mothers who pet children to eat was only 58.7% while the number who force‐feed their children was 23.6%. About 76.2% of mothers claimed that their children have their own separate bowls for eating; 76.4% sit with their children while feeding; and 5.3% talk with their children when they are eating. The study revealed that the psychology and culture of people influenced the respective care in complementary feeding for children. It is recommended that studies on complementary feeding should emphasise psychosocial care for optimum nutritional outcome.