ABSTRACT

This study assessed the influence of maternal breastfeeding practices on the anthropometric status of their infant (0-12 months) in Arochukwu L.G.A. A total of 250 mothers were selected using simple random sampling technique. Data on socio-economic/demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and practice of mothers towards exclusive breastfeeding, factors that influence maternal breastfeeding. Anthropometric measurements of weight and height were taken using standard procedures. The IBM SPSS version 20 computer programme was used to analyze the data. WHO anthro software was used to compute the anthropometric status of the children (0-12 months). About 38.4% of the mothers are aged between 20-24 years while majority (62.5%) of the mothers are married. About (73.2%) of the mothers earn below N20,000 monthly.  Slightly below half (42.4%) of mothers exclusively breastfed their babies while about 33.2% of the children were put to breast within 30mins after birth. About 42.4% of the mothers breastfeed their baby for about 0-6 months before introducing other semi-solid foods. Half of the mothers (53.6%) have a good knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding; some (41.2%) have poor knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding, while a few (5.2%) have an excellent knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding. About (33.6%) of the mothers fed their baby with infant formula while a few (24.8%) of them fed their babies with breast milk after delivery. Majority (71.2%) feed their child 3-4 times, 48% gave their child solid, semi-solid or soft food, and 50.4% did not feed from feeding bottle. The results showed that most of the infant had normal length for age (43.2%), weight for age (47.6%), weight for length (31.2.0%) and BMI for age (47.2%) status. The percentage of stunting was considerably high (56.8%), underweight status of infant using weight for age (40.4%), weight for length (15.2%) and BMI for age (17.2%). The high levels of malnutrition in this present day underline the great need for nutritional intervention. Exclusive breast feeding and timely introduction of appropriate complementary feeding is a key factor in child growth. The assessment of nutritional status using stunting, wasting, and underweight for children shows that the children were stunted, wasted, and underweight and this may be as a result of poor feeding and complementary practices coupled with poor economic status of the parents.