Infant Feeding Practices Of Mothers Research Articles

Early Infant Feeding Practices Among Mothers of Southeast Nigeria

Background: The promotion of optimal infant feeding practices is the most cost-effective of all interventions to reduce infant mortality. In spite of the recommendation of the WHO for optimal breastfeeding practices, several studies in Nigeria on early infant feeding practices have indicated a need for continuous auditing of feeding practices among mothers to make improvements. Objective: This study evaluated the early infant feeding practices of mothers and associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive, multi-centre, questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 2,287 mother-infant pairs in 13 Baby Friendly Hospitals in Southeast Nigeria. Results: The rate of early initiation of breastfeeding [EIBF] within the first one hour of birth was 22.9%, while the exclusive breastfeeding [EBF] rate was 39.3%. The main deterrent to EBF was early introduction of water [94.0%], formula [40.9%] and complementary feeds [85.7%]. There was a statistically significant difference [p<0.001] between the nutritional status of the exclusively breastfed infants and those non-exclusively breastfed, with moderate underweight, and severe underweight malnutrition in the non-exclusively breastfed group. Sociodemographic factors associated with EBF were infant’s birth order [p<0.001], maternal age [p=0.010], mother’s and spouse’s education [p<0.001 and p<0.001], mother’s and spouse’s occupation [p<0.001 and p<0.001]. Conclusion: Policies and measures to promote hospital deliveries targeting all mothers, with special focus on the poor, rural, working, and primiparous mothers, should become a top priority to improve the rate of EIBF. Promotion of EBF with emphasis on the dangers of early introduction of water, formula and complementary feeding should be intensified.

Inappropriate infant feeding practices of HIV-positive mothers attending PMTCT services in Oromia regional state, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundInappropriate infant feeding affects the probability of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and HIV-free survival of infants. However, in Ethiopia limited evidence exists regarding the infant feeding practice of mothers who are HIV-positive. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of inappropriate infant feeding among HIV-positive mothers attending the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) service in Adama and Bushoftu towns, Oromia, central Ethiopia.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in ten PMTCT service providing health facilities in the towns; 283 mother-infant pairs were enrolled. Appropriate infant feeding practice was defined as exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of age. Logistic regression was employed to analyze the data and the outputs are presented using adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsOne hundred thirty of the infants were aged below six months, 103 between 6 and 11 months and 50 were older than 12 months. The prevalence of inappropriate infant feeding was 14.5% (95% CI 10.6, 18.7). About 6.3% and 8.3% practiced exclusive replacement feeding and mixed feeding respectively, in the first six months. Only 1.8% ever expressed their breast milk to feed their baby and none practiced wet nursing. Among 38 mothers who already discontinued breastfeeding 52.6% did so before 12 months of age. Mothers who were HIV-positive and had received antenatal (AOR = 0.05: 0.01, 0.30) and postnatal visits (AOR = 0.18: 0.04, 0.81); received infant feeding counseling (AOR = 0.18: 0.06, 0.55); and disclosed their HIV status to their partners (AOR = 0.28: 0.12, 0.63), showed a reduction of practicing inappropriate infant feeding. Mothers having breast problems (AOR = 4.89: 1.54, 15.60) and infants with mouth ulcers (AOR = 6.41: 2.07, 19.85) were more likely to practice inappropriate feeding.ConclusionPrompt management of breast complaints in mothers and mouth ulcer in infants; and provision of nutrition counseling to HIV-positive mothers, especially during antenatal and postnatal care, may help to improve the infant feeding practices for HIV exposed infants.

Infant feeding practices during the first 6 months of life in a low-income area of the Western Cape Province

Background. Exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life protects against infant morbidity and mortality. Few studies describe the infant feeding practices of mothers living in low-income areas of the Western Cape Province of South Africa (SA). Objective. To describe the infant feeding practices of mothers of infants younger than 6 months in two low-income communities of SA. Methods . A cross-sectional community-based study using a structured questionnaire, and seven focus group discussions were conducted from February to August 2011 in Avian Park and Zwelethemba in Worcester, an urban area in the Western Cape. Results. Seventy-seven per cent of participants ( n =108) had initiated breastfeeding. At the time of the study, 6% ( n =8) breastfed exclusively. Ninety-four per cent ( n =132) applied suboptimal breastfeeding practices: 36% ( n =51) breastfed predominantly, 27% ( n =38) breastfed partially and 31% ( n =43) did not breastfeed. Ninety per cent ( n =126) of the mothers had introduced water, of whom 83% ( n =104) had done so before their infants were 1 month old. Forty-four per cent ( n =61) of the mothers had introduced food or formula milk, of whom 75% ( n =46) had done so before their infants were 3 months old. Qualitative findings indicated that gripe water, Lennon’s Behoedmiddel and herbal medicines were also given to infants. Nutritive liquids and/or food most commonly given as supplementary feeds were formula milk and commercial infant cereal. Conclusion. Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) during the first 6 months of life was a rare practice in these low-income communities. Water, non-prescription medicines and formula milk and/or food were introduced at an early age.

Mothers’ Nutritional Knowledge, Infant Feeding Practices and Nutritional Status of Children (0-24 Months) in Lagos State, Nigeria

Aim: This study examined the nutritional knowledge, infant feeding practices of mothers and the nutritional status of children in Lagos State, Nigeria. Study Design: A cross sectional survey design was used. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in three selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Lagos state. The LGAs were Ikeja, Shomolu and Ikorodu representing urban, sub-urban and rural areas respectively. Methodology: A validated questionnaire and group interview was used as the instrument for data collection. Data was collected from 300 randomly selected mothers of children aged 0 months to 24 months, who visited three Government- owned childcare centres in Lagos State, Nigeria. Anthropometric indices were used to determine the children’s nutritional status. The data obtained from mothers were analyzed using simple percentage and frequency counts. Epi Info 6 was used to analyze the anthropometric data. Results: The findings indicated that the mothers’ nutritional knowledge as revealed by the test score was fairly good. Majority (75%) of the respondents breastfed their children but only 14.7% of the mothers practiced exclusive breast feeding for six months, while 43.3% of the mothers in addition to breast feeding, included complementary foods for their

Predictors of ante-natal care, delivery and infant feeding practices among rural women in Madhya Pradesh, India

Background: Maternal and infant mortality rates and prevalence of under nutrition are high in the State Madhya Pradesh. Regular ante-natal check-ups (ANC), delivery by trained health personnel, delivery practices and optimal infant feeding practices are important to reduce maternal and infant mortality. Objectives: The aim was to assess antenatal care, delivery and infant feeding practices of mothers of Materials and Methods: This was community-based cross-sectional study carried out in the rural areas of Madhya Pradesh by adopting systematic random sampling procedure. Data were collected from 5324 mothers having Results and Interpretations: About 36% mothers had undergone at least three ante-natal check-ups and 73% delivered either at government or private hospitals. Only 26% mothers initiated breastfeeding within 1-h of birth and 92% fed colostrum. Step-wise regression analysis showed that ante-natal care for P Conclusions: It was observed that antenatal care, delivery and infant and young child feeding practices were associated with type of community, literacy status of mother, wealth index and person conducting delivery. Hence improving the literacy mothers, delivery by trained person and increasing awareness about optimal infant feeding practices will help to reduce infant and maternal mortality.

Breastfeeding and Problematic Integration: Results of a Focus-Group Study

This article reports on a subset of data from nine focus groups. Participants included new and expectant mothers and their partners, friends, and relatives. The larger goal of the focus groups was to understand local infant-feeding practices of mothers in our region. The subset of data reported in this article pertains to breastfeeding failure. The experience of breastfeeding failure, as described by participants in this study, is analyzed through the lens of Babrow's (1992) concept of problematic integration.

The infant-feeding practices of mothers enrolled in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV programme at a primary health care clinic in the Mpumalanga province, South Africa

Purpose: To determine whether mothers attending a primary health care (PHC) clinic in the Mpumalanga province, South Africa for post-delivery prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) follow-up care were adhering to the recommendation of exclusive infant-feeding practices, and to identify possible areas for improvement of the PMTCT of HIV services at the clinic. Setting: A municipal PHC clinic in White River, a semi-urban town in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Design: A cross-sectional descriptive study using a structured infant-feeding questionnaire. Subjects: All mothers attending the clinic for post-delivery PMTCT of HIV follow-up care during a four-month period from 1 November 2007 to Results: A total of 33 mothers with infants attended the clinic during the period. All 33 mothers took part in the questionnaire study. Thirty questionnaires were subsequently found suitable for analysis. The mothers were predominantly rural, with low levels of education and no formal employment. Their ages ranged from 22 to 42 years, with a mean of 30.7 years. Fifteen (50%) of the 30 mothers practised exclusive replacement feeding (ERF), 8 (27%) practised exclusive breast-feeding (EBF), and 7 (23%) practised mixed feeding. Conclusion: More than three-quarters of the mothers practised the recommended exclusive infant-feeding methods for PMTCT of HIV, with ERF as the most popular choice. However, the infant-feeding practices could not be generalised as the attendance of mothers for post-delivery follow-up care at the clinic was very poor during the study period. This poor attendance was attributed to frequent non-availability of free formula milk for the programme. Better quality counselling is needed to further increase the adherence to exclusive infant-feeding practices, and to improve the uptake of post-delivery follow-up care.

Infant-feeding practices of mothers and the nutritional status of infants in the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province

Objective: To determine the breast-feeding and weaning practices of mothers and the nutritional status of infants in the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province.Design: A descriptive and exploratory study was done. A sample of 185 mothers with 185 infants 12 months and younger was selected from five primary healthcare clinics. A validated questionnaire, which consisted of questions relating to demographic data, breast-feeding and weaning practices, was used. The weight and length measurements of the infants were taken.Results: The majority (97%) of the mothers were still breast-feeding at the time of the interviews. Only 7,6% practised exclusive breast-feeding, however, while 43,2% had introduced solid foods at three months and 15% before two months. The weaning food given by most of the mothers was maize-meal soft porridge and had been introduced before four months of age. The Z-score classification was used and showed that stunting (18,9%), underweight (7%) and wasting (7%) were present among the infants but that only wasting was found to be a disorder of public-health significance. The nutritional status of the infants was therefore not significantly influenced by the breast-feeding and weaning practices of the mothers or other demographic parameters.Conclusion: Breast-feeding was still practised by many of the mothers but exclusive breast-feeding was rare.

The infant feeding practices of mothers in the Maldives

To document the infant feeding practices of Maldivian mothers. A cross-sectional survey of 251 Maldivian mothers recruited in 2004 from the 'well baby' or 'well child' clinics on the island of Male' and including 75 mothers from three other islands, Hura, Himmafushi and Thulusdhoo. The full breast-feeding rate at hospital discharge was 93% but declined to 41% at 4 months. Any breast-feeding rates were high among Maldivian mothers: 100% at 1 month and 85% were still breast-feeding at 6 months. The median duration of breast-feeding was 24 months. Breast-feeding rates are high and the average duration of breast-feeding is more than 2 years in the Maldives. Health promotion activities should be directed towards maintaining the already high 'any breast-feeding' rates and increasing the proportion of infants exclusively breast-fed to 6 months.

Early infant feeding practices of mothers attending a postnatal clinic in Ga-Rankuwa

Background : Despite the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO) of exclusive breastfeeding for the first 4-6 months of life, several South African studies on infant feeding practices have shown that the introduction of feeds other than breastmilk before 4 months is a common practice. The timing of initiation of complementary feeding within the first 4 months is, however, difficult to determine. Objective : To determine feeding practices of mothers of infants 8 weeks of age or younger, attending the postnatal clinic at Ga-Rankuwa Hospital. Methods : A cross-sectional study of mothers attending the postnatal clinic at Ga-Rankuwa Hospital using a standardised interview schedule. Results : A total of 150 mothers were interviewed. All infants in the sample were younger than 9 weeks of age. The mean age of the sample was 37.4 (5.2 weeks) ±12.1 days. Although 99% of infants were breastfed, exclusive breastfeeding was practised by only 4.6% of the sample. Water was given to 88%, infant formula to 43% and complementary feeds to 37%. Forty-six per cent of mothers said that the reason for giving water to their babies was to prevent constipation. Infant formula was added because mothers believed that their breastmilk was insufficient for their infants\' needs. Of the complemented infants, 91% had received complementary feeds before 7 weeks of age. Thin maize meal porridge providing less than 1 kJ/ml and negligible protein was the most commonly given first food. Conclusion : Breastfeeding was almost universal, exclusive breastfeeding was the exception. Mixed feeding was common, with the introduction of complementary feeds occurring within the first 2 months of life, well before the WHO recommendations. South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition Vol. 18(2) 2005: 70-75

Erratum to: Factors influencing infant feeding practices of mothers in Vancouver

In the abovementioned article, the figures were mislabelled: Figure 1 should be Figure 5, Figure 2 should be Figure 1, Figure 3 should be Figure 2, Figure 4 should be Figure 3, Figure 5 should be Figure 4.

Factors Influencing Infant Feeding Practices of Mothers in Vancouver

This study describes factors influencing infant feeding choices of 434 mothers with 9-month-old infants in Vancouver. Consistent with Social Cognitive Theory, both internal personal and socio-environmental factors influence infant feeding choices. Mothers attributed the choice to breastfeed primarily to personal choice, whereas the choice to formula feed was attributed to socio-environmental factors. Among mothers who breastfed < 3 months, the choice to wean was primarily attributed to concern for baby's nutrition; compared to returning to work, concern about milk supply and concern for baby's nutrition among those who breastfed > or = 3 to < 6 months; and returning to work and personal choice among those who breastfed > or = 6 months. Among Caucasian mothers, the choice to wean was primarily attributed to returning to work, compared to concern for baby's nutrition among non-Caucasian mothers. Initiatives to facilitate further advances in breastfeeding promotion could address three areas: 1) prenatal intentions, 2) early postpartum concerns, and 3) later issues surrounding returning to work and infant nutrition.

Vitamin D concentrations in Asian children aged 2years living in England: population survey

Editorial by Wharton Clinical review p 39 The Social Survey Division of the Office for National Statistics on behalf of the Department of Health carried out a survey between 1994and...

Infant Formula Promotion and Infant-Feeding Practices, Bicol Region, Philippines

A 1978 household survey and a 1981 survey of stores and health facilities document the availability of breast milk substitutes, promotion of infant food and formula through the medical sector, and the effects of such promotion on the infant-feeding practices of mothers in the Bicol region of the Philippines. Breast milk substitutes were universally available in the region. Infant food and formula companies were active in the modern medical sector with promotional efforts that included distributing free formula samples, providing pamphlets and posters, and organizing professional meetings. Industry activities had mixed effects on health professionals' knowledge of breast-feeding and attitudes towards the practice. Activities of multinationals tended not to affect mothers' breast-feeding behavior directly but increased the probability of their introducing breast milk substitutes within the first six months, and thus in practicing a program of mixed feeding.

The Impact of Urbanization and Socioeconomic Status on Infant Feeding Practices in Lagos, Nigeria

A report covers the first phase of an on-going national study to evaluate current maternal perceptions of infant feeding among different ethnic, religious, cultural, and socioeconomic groups in urbanized Nigeria. The main objective of the study is to assess the extent of breast-feeding decline, the principal factors responsible for this negative change, and how best to institute corrective eductional measures. Present findings demonstrate that virtually all mothers studied still held strong positive feelings about the importance of breast-feeding. However, a wide discrepancy was found between actual infant feeding practices of mothers and their expressed views on what these practices should be. One influencing factor appears to be the great pressure on mothers to spend more time trying to augment the family income at the expense of caring adequately for their children. (wz)

Infant formula promotion and infant-feeding practices, Bicol region, Philippines.

A 1978 household survey and a 1981 survey of stores and health facilities document the availability of breast milk substitutes, promotion of infant food and formula through the medical sector, and the effects of such promotion on the infant-feeding practices of mothers in the Bicol region of the Philippines. Breast milk substitutes were universally available in the region. Infant food and formula companies were active in the modern medical sector with promotional efforts that included distributing free formula samples, providing pamphlets and posters, and organizing professional meetings. Industry activities had mixed effects on health professionals' knowledge of breast-feeding and attitudes towards the practice. Activities of multinationals tended not to affect mothers' breast-feeding behavior directly but increased the probability of their introducing breast milk substitutes within the first six months, and thus in practicing a program of mixed feeding.