ABSTRACT
Weaning is the introduction of supplementary
food to a child’s diet after the first six months of life. Early introduction
of feeds and incorrect weaning practices are commonly found in communities
around the world. This research was designed to explore infant weaning
knowledge and practices among mothers.
Descriptive research design was adopted. The
population were 260 mothers attending three Primary Healthcare Centres in
Ikenne Local Government. Sample size was determined using Leslie Kish formula
and simple random sampling was adopted to select 100 mothers for the study. A
designed questionnaire was used to collect data from participants. Face and
content validity of the questionnaire was ascertained by presenting it to
experts in the field. Reliability was tested using split-half method and
Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient was 0.85. Data was processed using
statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 21. Two research
questions were answered using descriptive statistics of mean standard deviation.
Four hypotheses were tested using inferential statistics of Pearson correlation
at 0.05 level of significance.
The study revealed that 8(8%) of mothers had
low knowledge level on infant weaning, 50(50%) had moderate knowledge level and
42(42%) had high knowledge level. Also, 3(3%) of mothers had high practice
level on infant weaning, 66(66%) had moderate practice level and 31(31%) had
low practice level on infant weaning.There is a significant relationship
between occupation and weaningpractices among mothers (r = 0.035; p = 0.004).
There is also a significant relationship between educational level and weaningpractices
among mothers (r = 0.003; p = 0.000), whereas there is no significant relationship
between ethnicity and infant weaning practices among mothers (r = 0.036; p =
0.723) and there is a significant relationship between mothers knowledge level
and infant weaningpractices among mothers (r = 0.086; p = 0.001).
In conclusion, infant weaning knowledge and practices
among mothers is moderate. The study recommended that nurses should regularly
train mothers on infant weaning to improve their knowledge and practice
regarding infant weaning.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Weaning is the introduction of supplementary
food to a child’s diet after the first six months of life. Infant weaning with
supplementary feeds of breast milk substitutes, early introduction of
complementary feeding and incorrect weaning from breast milk are commonly found
practices in communities around the world (Inayati, Scherbaum, Purwestri, Hormann,
Wirawan, Suryantan, Hartono, Bloem, Pangaribuan, Biesalki, Hoffmann, &
Bellows, 2012). The period of weaning could involve a lot of problems and
usually information gap exist in relation to how and when weaning takes place.
Adequate nutrition during infancy and early childhood is essential for growth
and development of children (Ashmika, Deerajen, Prity & Rajesh, 2013). It
has been recognized worldwide that breastfeeding is beneficial for both the
mother and child as breastmilk is considered the best source of nutrition for
an infant (Ku & Chow, 2010). The World Health Organization (WHO) as said by
Hanif (2011 recommends that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the
first six months after which complementary foods are introduced along with
breastmilk for up to two years of age or beyond. The first two years of life
are critical stages for a child’s growth and development. Any damage caused by
nutritional deficiencies during this period could lead to impaired cognitive
development, compromised educational achievement and low economic productivity
(Kimani-Murage, Madise, Fotso, Kyobutungi, Mutau, Gitau & Yatich, 2011).
Poor breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices,
together with high rates of morbidity from infectious diseases are the prime
proximate causes of malnutrition in the first two years of life. Breastfeeding
confers both short-term and long-term benefits to a child. It reduces
infections and mortality among infants, improves mental and motor development,
and protects against obesity and metabolic diseases later in life (WHO, 2010).
According to Kimani-Murage et al., (2011),
the WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months, beginning
from the first hour of life, to meet the infant’s nutritional requirements and
achieve optimal growth, development and health. The mother is advised to
continue breastfeeding up to two years of age or more and begin nutritionally
adequate, safe, and appropriately-fed complementary foods at the age of six
months in order to meet the evolving needs of the growing infant. Since weaning
is a process by which food other than breast milk is introduced gradually into
baby’s diet, first to complement the breast milk and then to wean totally off
breast milk involve selecting light nutritious food for easy absorption. Then
later replace light nutritious food with thicker feed using hygiene practices
when preparing them but majority of nutrition problems in rural areas are due
to faulty weaning food (Shadia & Bedor, 2013).
Predictors of breastfeeding and weaning practices
vary between and within countries. Factors that influence the weaning process
include infant feeding problems such as refusal to eat, colic, diarrhoea and
vomiting (Ashmika et al., 2013).
These factors represent challenges for mothers and in turn may either directly
or indirectly influence the feeding pattern. In view of the identified factors,
which are early introduction of complementary feeding and incorrect weaning
from breast milk, the researcher would carry out a study on infant weaning
knowledge and practices among mothers in ikenne local government area, Ogun
State
1.2 Statement
of the Problem
Weaning has been one of the most wrongly practiced
processes in the developmental stages of the children. It was observed that mothers give their infant
other food apart from breast milk right from birth while some delayed
supplementary diet till above Nine months with either cases having negative
effect on the infant. WHO (Hanif, 2011) recommends a gradual weaning period
from 6 months to 2 years, this allows for the child to still receive the
benefits from breastfeeding, while also consuming the necessary nutrients from
the complementary foods. But almost half of the mothers (52%) abruptly weaned
their children while only 11.6% gradually weaned their children as
complementary food is being addedto the children diet (Somiya, 2014). The time
of weaning is one of the most critical aspects of child's life. It is the
transition period at which the child whose main food used to be milk changes
over to adult food. Usually if this period of change in diet is well-planned
and progresses smoothly, there will be no setbacks, but in a large number of
children, malnutrition usuallytakes place during this period. Ten million
children under the age of 5 years old die each year (Somiya, 2014). More than
half of the deaths occur because of poor weaning that leads to malnutrition. If
adequate health systems were in place nearly two-third of the deaths could be
prevented. The most vulnerable period for developing under-nutrition remains
the transition from breastfeeding to family foods. Malnourished children often
suffer the loss of precious mental capacities. They fall ill more often. If
they survive, they may grow up with lasting mental or physical disabilities
(Dinesh & Sushilkumar, 2011).
Poor quality of weaning foods and improper
weaning practices predispose infants to malnutrition, growth retardation,
infection, diseases and high mortality (Somiya, 2014). Food is expected to be
prepared adequately containing the required nutrients as well as appropriate
with a suitable texture and temperature. Without the knowledge of proper
weaning practices as well as a perception of the child’s hunger needs,
malnutrition and illness may ensue. Thus, the weaning period is therefore a
vulnerable time when the child should be attentively cared for and observed so
as to maintain health (Somiya, 2014). Therefore, information gotten on weaning
will improve mother’s practice of weaning since the mother is the most
important person in a baby’s life for both its physical as well as its
psychosocial care and growth. The mother-infant relationship is the most vital
formative relationship for the child. There arises a need to prevent wrong assumption
of mothers on weaning process and timing, there is need for sound education,
effective information and sufficient knowledge of weaning to be instilled in
mothers. Nurses can be agent of carrying out the educational needs for weaning
infants in proper way. Therefore, the need for a study on infant weaning
knowledge and practices among mothers in Ikenne Local Government Area, Ogun
State.
1.3 Objective
of the Study
The main objective of this studyis to explore infant
weaning knowledge and practices among mothers in Ikenne local government area,
Ogun State. Thespecific objectives are to:
- determine
the knowledge level on infant weaning among mothers attending three
Primary Healthcare Centres in Ikenne Local Government Area;
2. assess the practice level oninfant weaning among
mothersattending three Primary
Healthcare Centres in Ikenne Local Government Area;
3. assess the relationship between occupation and infant
weaning practices among mothers attending
three Primary Healthcare Centres in Ikenne Local Government Area;
4. identify the relationship between ethnicity and infant
weaning practices among mothers attending
three Primary Healthcare Centres in Ikenne Local Government Area;
5. assess the relationship between educational level and
infant weaning practices among mothers attending three Primary Healthcare Centres in Ikenne Local Government
Area and
6. to determine the relationship between mothers
knowledge level and infant weaning practices attending three Primary Healthcare Centres in Ikenne Local Government
Area.
1.4 Research Questions
The
following research questions were answered:
1.
What is
the knowledge level on infant weaning among mothers attending three Primary
Healthcare Centres in Ikenne Local Government Area.
2. What is the practice level oninfant weaning among
mothersattending three Primary
Healthcare Centres in Ikenne Local Government Area.
1.5 Hypotheses
The
following hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance.
HO1. There is
no significant relationship between occupation and infant weaning
practices
among mothers attending three Primary
Healthcare Centres in Ikenne Local
Government Area.
HO2.There
is no significant relationship between ethnicity and infant weaning practices
among
mothers attending three Primary Healthcare Centres in
Ikenne Local Government Area.
HO3.There
is no significant relationship between educational level and infant weaning practices
among
mothers attending three Primary Healthcare Centres in
Ikenne Local Government
Area.
HO4.There
is no significant relationship between mothers knowledge level and infant
weaning
practices
attending three Primary Healthcare Centres in
Ikenne Local Government Area.
1.6 Scope
of the Study
This
study covered infant weaning knowledge and practices among mothers in Ikenne
Local Government Area, Ogun State. The study is limited by recruitment of
participants
1.7 Justification
for the Study
The study wouldhelp to establish inadequacy in
infant weaning knowledge and practice among mothers and also provide baseline
data for subsequent studies on infant weaning knowledge and practices among
mothers.
This study would also help to provide
recommendations for improving inadequacies in infant weaning knowledge and practices
among mothers.
The study would also assist health institutions
and the government at the federal, state and local level to plan strategies to
improve infant weaning knowledge and practices among mothers.
1.8 Operational
Definition of Terms
- Weaning:introduction
of supplementary food to a child’s diet after the first six months of
life.
- Mother: Women
who has a child with age from birth to 24 months.
- Knowledge:
Mothers understanding regarding infant weaning as measured by knowledge
score.
- Practice:
Mothers activity regarding infant weaning as measured by practice score.
- Infants:
children aged from birth to 24 months of age.
- Ikenne local government
area: A local government area in Ogun state.
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