Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices Adopted by Mothers at Dadease and Effiduase

Abstract

Optimal feeding during infancy and early childhood is fundamental to the makeup of a child’s full human potential. This study aimed at infant and young child feeding practices of mothers and the effect on nutritional status of their children at Dadease and Effiduase in the Sekyere-Kumawu and Sekyere-East Districts respectively. A cross sectional design was used for the study using a sample size of 122 mothers and their young children within the age range of 0-24 months old. Multistage sampling technique was employed. Weight-for-Age, Height-for-Weight, Height-for-Age and Body Mass Index (BMI) were used in assessing infants and young child’ nutritional status using EPI-version 7 anthropometric calculator. The relationship of mothers’ nutritional knowledge and type of feeding practices adopted for their young children was examined using spearman’s correlation at 0.01 significant level. The result showed a weak negative insignificant (r= -.141, p > 0.01) relationship. Similarly, educational level of mothers and age did not influence choice of infants’ feeding practices, (p > 0.05). Rather, factors such as work situation, culture, post-natal clinic services, family and friends influenced mother’s choice of infant and young children feeding practices (p < 0.05). About 37% mothers confirmed that they introduced other foods to their infants below 4 months while generally, 95% mothers were noted for introducing supplementary foods to infants below the 6th month. Also, only 7% mothers actually gave supplementary foods after the 6th month. This finding indicated that feeding practices adopted by most mothers was not in line with WHO recommendation for infant feeding, hence the high prevalence of severe underweight in Effiduase (72%) and Dadease (78%) communities. The study concluded that high risk of malnourishment found in both towns is as a result of poor infant feeding practices by mothers hence the need for promotion on best infant and young child feeding practices in the Sekyere-Kumawu and Sekyere-East districts through Effective Health Education and counselling routine as well as young children dieting guide to be enforced at Dadease and Effiduase to foster optimal childhood feeding practices among mothers. Again, Health Officers should capitalise on mothers’ first source of nutrition information and make strong impact on them through exemplary practices by nurses in the communities.