Complementary Dietary Practices for Infants among Educated and Non-Educated Women

Abstract

This study examined the complementary dietary practices for infants among educated and non-educated women of Ife central local government area of Osun State, Nigeria. It was a descriptive survey research. A total of one hundred and fifty (154) respondents participated in this research. The research instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire on a 4-point scale. The major findings of the study revealed the complementary dietary practices for infants, identified possible factors affecting complementary dietary practice which are economic status, maternal education, employment status, residence type. It further revealed effects of inadequate complementary dietary practices which include sub-optimal growth and development and malnutrition, low intelligence level and others and revealed possible strategies to be adopted for adequate and proper complementary feeding practices which are provision of accurate dietary information to caregivers and family at large, introduction of developmental health system. Based on the findings, recommendations were made among which are adequate information should be given to upcoming mothers, hospitals, clinic and health center officials should educate mothers about the appropriate time to start feeding their children on complementary diet, mothers should breastfeed for at least six months of age before introducing semi-solid food to their children.

Keywords

• breastfeeding
• complementary
• dietary practices
• growth
• health