Introduction

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), breast milk has the complete nutritional
requirements that a baby needs for healthy development. Breastfeeding, particularly Exclusive
Breastfeeding for the initial six months of life, provides better health for both infants and
mothers by preventing diseases and promoting health in the short and long term.
 It is safe and contains antibodies that help protect infants and boost immunity. Breastfeeding
also, contributes to reduction in infant morbidity and mortality which could be due to diarrhea,
respiratory or ear infections and other infectious diseases. For the mothers, breastfeeding is
economical; breast milk is always available, clean and at the right temperature. Breastfeeding
also delays the return of fertility and reduces the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers.
Exclusive breast feeding implies that a child should be fed only with breast milk during the first
six month of the infant’s life. The importance of breastfeeding has been documented in
numerous scientific studies. Exclusive breastfeeding during early months of life reduces infant
morbidity and mortality.
 The WHO recommends that for the first six months of life, infants should be exclusively
breastfed to achieve optimal growth, development and health. Thereafter, infants should
receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods, while continuing to breastfeed
for up to two years or more.
 Globally, less than 40% of infants less than six months of age are exclusively breastfed, despite
the documented benefits of breastfeeding.
 In addition, only 38% of infants aged less than six months in the developing world, Africa
included, are exclusively breastfed. In many African societies, exclusive breastfeeding is
influenced by various socio-economic, cultural and biological factors.

Discussion of Findings
Results from this study also showed that majority of women attend at least four (4) ante natal
clinics before birth. This is good development as the current accepted focus ante natal advocate
at least four (4) ante natal clinic attendance. Women’s knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding
from this study showed that almost all women that participated in the study where educated
on exclusive breastfeeding during ante natal clinic, this is a practice of health care providers.

Conclusion
The benefits inherent in the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six month of life
cannot be overemphasized, especially in a country like Nigeria with poor health indices, mal
nutrition and high infant mortality. Although women in this study have good knowledge and
practice of exclusive breastfeeding, there is still room for improvement. Knowledge in very
essential in determine people attitude to something and will reflect their practice of it.
The number proportion of the mothers that still did not have adequate knowledge about
exclusive breastfeeding still need to be educated and importance of exclusive
breastfeeding reinforced among them. This will increase the level of knowledge of mothers
about exclusive breastfeeding and result in good practice of exclusive breastfeeding with
resultant healthy children in the society. Effort should also be made at providing crèche
facilities in every workplace and appropriate policy should be put in place to legalize 6 months
maternity leave for mothers.
Initiation of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) within one hour of delivery ensures that the child gets to

consume colostrum which is the initial special breast milk produced within the first 2 days after delivery

and is rich in antibodies, anti-infective proteins, white blood cells and growth factors (WHO, 2010). It

also has cleansing effects that help clear the infant’s gut thus preventing jaundice. Initiating EBF early in

life is associated with greater appetite regulation later in childhood leading to reduction of early

overweight (Lahariya, 2008).

When EBF is initiated immediately after birth and is continued for six months, it reduces risks of severe

malnutrition, cough incidences, hypoxemia incidences and duration in children with pneumonia,

diarrhoea, gastro-intestinal tract conditions, respiratory conditions, infections and anaemia (Lahariya,

2008). The breast fed children have less digestive troubles, colic pains and best working immune system

(Cohen, Hadash, Shehadeh & Pillar; 2012).

Furthermore, continued breastfeeding at 12-15 months of age is associated with reduction of higher

risks of child underweight (Marriot, White, Hadden, Davies & Wallingford; 2012). Other benefits of

breastfeeding include the breast milk’s vitamin A important role in assisting a child to build up hepatic

stores of vitamin A that later become critical for survival after introduction of solids, semi-solids and soft

foods.

1.1.1 Complementary Feeding

An age is reached when breast milk alone is insufficient to meet the child’s nutritional needs, and at this

point complementary foods must be added. Complementary feeding is defined as giving other foods in

addition to breast milk. These other foods are called complementary foods. The target range for

complementary feeding is generally taken to be 6 to 24 months of age, even though breastfeeding may

continue beyond two years.

exceptionally difficult circumstances, such as pre-term or low-birth-weight infants, severely

malnourished children, and in emergency situations. Specific recommendation apply to infants born to

HIV-infected mothers.

Timely introduction of solid, semi-solid and soft foods (complementary feeding) at 6 months of age is

associated with reduction in risk of underweight, illness and mortality in children. According to a study

done in 14 poor countries, complementary feeding at 6-8 months was associated significantly with lower

risks of both stunting and underweight (Marriot et al., 2012). Stunting in older children shows failure of

growth and development during the first two years of life as revealed in a study done in Nairobi’s

informal urban settlements (Marriot et al., 2012). Hence, evidence of the need of nutrition intervention

between 0-2 years of age.

As a child grows there is need for increased energy intake as from six months (WHO, 2010). However,

due to poor breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices the child is exposed to greater risks of

nutritional deficiency and growth retardation which occurs at three to fifteen months.

 
 
The provision of adequate nutrition during infancy and early childhood is a basic
requirement for the development and promotion of optimum growth, health and behavior of
the child.

Introduction
The main stay of infant’s diet in every culture or community from the very existence of man on earth has been
breast milk. Breastfeeding is therefore a universally recommended way of providing infant nourishment (WHO,
2003).Breastfeeding activities are carried out worldwide in order to fulfill the World Health Organization (WHO)
and UNICEF recommendation that infant be breastfed exclusively for six months and thereafter until 24 months
(WHO2003).

The practice of breastfeeding have been recommended worldwide because it provides a superior source of
nutrients for infants, it is an effective source of antibody that protects against illness and the expression of
affective closeness between mothers and child (Hauser et al2010).However, various factors have been adduced
to influence breastfeeding practices. These factors include mother’s marital status, employment status, friends
method of feeding their babies, social support and baby’s age (Sika-Bright, 2010). The study of factors that
promote or inhibit the transition from breast milk to solid foods had attracted much attention because apart
from the fact that normal growth and development are dependent on acceptance of solid foods, it had been
noted that as from6 months of age, breast milk was no longer an adequate source for energy and essential
nutrients for babies (Lawaoyin et al, 2001). This had made the transition to solid food to be a critical period.
According to Baumslag and Michels, (1995), breastfed babies are healthier, have fewer hospitalizations and have
lower mortality rates than formula-fed infants. The benefits of breastfeeding are not only limited to the child.
On the short term, mothers also benefits from breastfeeding, Oxytocin, the bonding hormones has been found
to increase with breastfeeding. Breastfeeding practices has also been found to lower mother’s risk of developing
uterine cancer, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes and breast cancer (Baumslag and Michels, 1995).The major aspect
of infant feeding in Nigeria, like in many countries of sub –Saharan Africa, has been the practice of breastfeeding.
The Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS, 2008) report showed a 13% exclusive Breastfeeding rate
which is a decline from 17% indicated in 2003 report, The 2008 report also revealed that 34%of the infants aged
0-5 months were given plain water in addition to breast milk, while10% were given non- milk liquids and juice
and 6% were given milk other than breast milk. Furthermore, only 32% of children under 24 months of age were
still on breast milk. Considering the percentage of mothers practicing breast feeding, It should not be surprising
that Nigeria is still saddled with high incidence of malnutrition and its associated infant mortality.

Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices of mothers.

Example: What Infant feeding method do you use?

a) Exclusive breastfeeding
b) Partial breastfeeding
c) Bottle-feeding
d) Mixed feeding
d
11. How long after birth did you first come into contact with the baby?

a) Within 30 minutes
b) Within an hour
c) Within one hour 30 minutes
d) Within two hours or more

12. In what manner or fashion was your baby when you first came into contact with him/her?

a) Baby was naked apart from nappy and cap and was placed in skin-to-skin contact
b) Baby was completely naked and placed in skin-to-skin contact
c) Baby was covered and there was no skin-to-skin contact

13. How long were you kept in contact with the baby?

a) 30 minutes
b) One hour
c) One hour 30 minutes
d) Two hours

14. How long did it take you to breastfeed your baby after delivery?

a) 30 minutes
b) One hour
c) One hour 30 minutes
d) Two hours or more

15. What infant feeding method do you use to feed your baby?

a) Exclusive breastfeeding
b) Formula feeding
c) Complimentary feeding along with continued breastfeeding
d) Mixed feeding
e) Complimentary feeding

16. How often do breastfeed your baby in a day?

a) 3-4 times
b) 5-8 times
c) 8-12 times
d) More than 12 times
e) Not applicable
17. How do you feed your child when you are sick or absent?

a) I express breast milk

18. What do you use to feed him or her?

a) Bottle with teat

REFERENCE
Baumslag, N; & Michels, D.L (1995), Milk, Money and Madness: The culture and politics of Breastfeeding.
Westport, C.T: Bergin & Garvey. Black RF, Blair, SP, Jones, V.N, Durant, RH (1990); Infant feeding decisions
amongpregnant women from a WIC population in Georgia. JADA, 90(2), 255-259.

Guise, J.M; & Fred, G. (2000), Resident Physicians’ knowledge of Breastfeeding and infant growth. Birth, 27(1) 49-
53.

Lawaoyin TO, Olawuyi, JF, Onadeko MO (2001); factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding in Ibadan.
Nigeria Journal Human Lactation. 17; 321-325

Morhason-Bello OI; Adediran OB, Ojengbede AO (2009); Social support duringchildbirth as a catalyst for early
breast feeding initiation for first –time Nigerian mothers Int. Breastfeeding Journal, 4:16.

World Health Organisation. Exclusive breastfeeding for six months best for babies everywhere.
2011Retrieved from http://www.who.int.3.