Feeding and weaning practices among mothers of under-five children in selected primary health care centres in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti, Nigeria

Abstract

An appropriate diet is necessary in the growth and health status of children especially in the first two years of life. This study determined the feeding and weaning practices among mothers of children below the age of five years in two selected Primary Healthcare Centres in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. The study design was descriptive and cross sectional using an interviewer-administered questionnaire, 200 mothers who were purposely selected participated in the study. Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used for data analysis. Findings from the study revealed that the main practice of feeding of infants was breastfeeding, the majority of the mothers started to wean their children at about 6 - 7 months. Also, the major type of weaning practiced by mothers was abrupt weaning, majority of the mothers had good knowledge of feeding and weaning including how beneficial exclusive breastfeeding is, though it is just a few of them that practice exclusive breastfeeding. Therefore, complementary feeding education that will involve the use of various media most especially the primary health facilities is paramount for optimal health of infants. Also teaching should focus on the type of weaning and mothers should be educated on the consequences of abruptly weaning a child.