Knowledge, attitude and practice of infant and young child feeding among mothers with child (0-24 months) in Umuahia South L.G.A.
Date
2021-04
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Federal University of Technology, Owerri
Abstract
Malnutrition is the commonest cause of death of children under 2years of age in the rural areas, this study determined the knowledge, attitude and practice of infant and young child feeding among mothers with child 0-24months in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State which is located in Abia Central Senatorial Zone, bounded in the North by Umuahia North Local Government Area, in the South by Isiala Ngwa South Local
Government Area, in the East by Ikputu in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, and in the West by Mbaise in Imo State. Descriptive study design was used for the study, the sample size of 372 was drawn from the target population of 5325 nursing mothers attending postnatal clinics in the study area. The respondents were selected using the random sampling technique. Structured questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection, the data collected were analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS). The result showed that 332 (89-2%) had good knowledge of infant and young child feeding, more respondents 330(88.7%) knew the correct meaning of exclusive breastfeeding, more respondents 229(77.7%) knew when to commence complimentary feeding which is at 6months, while only 167(44.9%) had good knowledge of the consistency of the child's food. Also more respondents 239(64.2%) strongly agreed that the baby should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6months of life, more respondents 199(53.9%) strongly agreed that colostrums should not be thrown away while majority 310(83.3%) strongly agreed that there is no difficulty in exclusive breastfeeding. More respondents 250(67.2%) were of the opinion that water should not be given to the baby for the first months of life. From the findings, there was overall high level knowledge score of exclusive breastfeeding
330(88.7%) moderate knowledge on complimentary feeding 120(46%) and low knowledge on weaning, also there was positive attitude towards exclusive breastfeeding 310(83.3%) as compared the negative attitude of 10(2.7%) on responses of difficulties in exclusive breastfeeding, more respondents 272(73.1%) practice rooming in which is the mother sleeping with the baby in the same bed while only 100(26.6%) does not practice rooming in.There is still poor knowledge on complimentary feeding, negative attitude towards intake of colustrum as many respondents believed that colustrum should be thrown away and poor practice because most of the respondents still give water to a child less than 6months. There is need for further awareness creation among mothers in the rural community in other to embrace adequate infant and young child feeding practice in Umuahia South Local Government Area and Abia State in general to improve the nutritional status of children under 2years of age. There is also need to increase the knowledge, attitude and practice(KAP) of mothers in the rural areas of the State through health information ,education and communication (IEC) and follow-up activities in the communities will be of great importance to sustain the effort of the health facilities and recruitment of more health workers in rural areas to educate mothers on the need for proper practice of infant and young child feeding, there is also need for further studies in the LGAs and the State at large.
Description
Masters thesis on infant and young child feeding among mothers with child.
Keywords
Knowledge, attitude, practice, infant, feeding, youngchild, Department of Public Health
Citation
Kalu, M. O. (2021). Knowledge, attitude and practice of infant and young child feeding among mothers with child (0-24 months) in Umuahia South L.G.A. (Unpublished Master's Thesis), Federal University of Technology, Owerri.