ABSTRACT

This study was carried out in order to access the use of breast milk substitute among lactating mothers in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State. The specific objectives are to assess the socio-demographic and economic characteristics of the lactating mothers, determine the utilization of breast milk substitute among lactating mothers. The populations of the study were all lactating mothers of 0-14 month’s old children in Okigwe Local government Area of Imo State. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the study sample (n=240). The questionnaire was structured into six sections, (Section A: Socio demographic/ economic characteristics of the respondents; Section B: Family structure of the respondents; Section C: Mother’s breastfeeding practices: Section D: Use of breast Milk Substitute; Section E: Exposure to Promotion of Breast Milk Substitute; Section F:  Exclusive Breast Feeding Self Efficacy. The result of the study revealed that most (88.5%) of the lactating mothers attend antenatal clinic during pregnancy while few (11.5%) of them does not attend antenatal clinic during pregnancy, which indicates that the level of antenatal service utilization in the study area is significantly higher compared to other major ethnic groups in Nigeria which could be as a result of religion and cultural influences. This study also revealed that majority (78.6%) of the mothers had tertiary education which resulted in higher rate of utilization of antenatal care, some (14.8%) had secondary education, and 2.9% had junior secondary education, 1.6 had primary education and 0.8 of them had no formal education. The result showed that the most effective source of breast milk substitute awareness was internet/social media (11.1%). This study observed that (84.3%) of the mothers initiated breastfeeding immediately after birth while few (5% and 1.9%) introduced breast milk to their babies after 2-3 weeks and 1 month respectively. Some (26.7% and 21.7%) were advised by the doctor and mother-in-law respectively to feed their babies with infant formula, while 22.9% did not get the advice from anybody. From the study, less than half (22.6%) of the mothers use My Boy Eldorin Infant Formula, some (15.3%, 14.6% and 14.2%) prefers NAN Pro 1 milk powder, Lactogen Starter Infant Formula and Aptamil Infant Formula respectively. The study revealed that majority (71.5%) of the children were not so much thin, some (22.6%) are a little fat, few (2.9%, 2.5% and 0.4%) are not so much thin, very thin/skinny and very fat/plump respectively.- This study recommends more research on the use of breast milk substitutes among lactating mothers to enable proactive actions in other to forestall it. This study also recommends the following: Given the significant and widespread nutrition challenges Nigeria faces and the important role that breastfeeding can play in preventing illness in childhood and later life, more resources should be dedicated to educating communities, consumers, healthcare workers and baby food companies, as well as distributors and retailers, about the value of breastfeeding, emphasis should be placed on improving the technical skills of antenatal care clinic staff in hospitals/health centers to enhance the knowledge of mothers on infant breastfeeding, Immunization should be improved in most communities to reduce the effects of poor infant breastfeeding in affected areas. More awareness is needed on the use of breast milk substitutes especially after the first 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding.