ABSTRACT

This cross sectional study aimed to assess infant feeding, health care practices and

the antbropometric status of the under-five children of rural dwellers in Ihitte-

Uboma, Imo State. A total of 350 mothers with under-5 children were

systematically selected and used for this study. A structured questionnaire was

used to obtain information on socio-economic characteristics, infant feeding

practices and health care practices of mothers in rural areas. Anthropometric

status of the children was calculated using WHO anthro software. Data obtained

were analyzed using descriptive and clii square statistics with SPSS software

version 20.0. One third (3 1.7%) of the children were within the age of 14-20

months. Good number (38.9%) women and 45.9% men were graduates and 60%

women and 50.9% men were self-employed with low income levels. More than

quarter (26.6%) fed their babies exclusively for 6 months and 40.6% initiated this

breast feeding within 30 minute of birth. At 6 months, 5 8.3% fed their babies pap

with soybean, milk, rice, beans, yam and potatoes. Majority (88%) fed their

babies from their farm products. Majority of the mothers attended antenatal and

94.9% of their children were given polio and penta-2, respectively. Prevalence of

wasting, stunting and underweight was among 9.1%, 28% and 12.6% of the

children, respectively. Furthermore, some factors such as occupation of father and

income, intake of vitamin A during antenatal, pattern of breastfeeding used,

period of its initiation after birth, number of food given to the child a day and

forms of feeding used for the child significantly influenced the nutritional status

of the children, the hygienic nature of the environment where the children food

are prepared also significantly influenced their nutritional status. This shows the

need for the mothers of these children to properly feed their children and maintain

cleanliness while preparing foods given to these children to ensure that stunting is

drastically reduced among these children as it could affect their learning abilities.