International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences

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Nutritional Assessment of Exclusively Breastfed and Non-Exclusively Breastfed Infants Aged (0 – 6 Months) at Mother of Christ Specialist Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria

Received: 10 September 2014    Accepted: 26 September 2014    Published: 30 September 2014
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Abstract

Background: The assessment of Nutritional status of infants, aged 0-6 Months (Exclusively breastfed and non- exclusively breastfed) was conducted at Mother of Christ Specialist Hospital, Ogui, Enugu State, Nigeria. The aim of the survey was to find out if mothers truly practice exclusive breastfeeding, the ratio of mothers who practice exclusive breastfeeding to those who do not, to compare the nutritional status of infants who were breastfed exclusively with those who were not and to find out factors that discouraged mothers from practicing exclusive breastfeeding. Methodology: Structured questionnaires were validated by Dietitians and administered. The questionnaires were administered to two hundred mothers who were randomly selected. Anthropometric measurements (weight, length, head circumference and chest circumference) of babies were taken and recorded. The data collected were analyzed using statistical methods, which included mean, chi square, t-test, z-score, correlations, frequencies and percentages. Result: The study, revealed that (194) mothers breastfed their babies generally while (6) did not. One hundred and Sixty four (82%) practiced exclusive breastfeeding and 15% (30) did not breastfeed their babies exclusively. There was significant relationship between the levels of mothers' education and nutritional status of the infants. The mean age of the males exclusively breastfed was (9.86) while that of the females was (9.74) and the mean length was (61.96) and (60.92) receptively. The result of the anthropometric measurements showed that most of the parameters were better in exclusively breastfeed than in non-exclusively breastfeed infants though in some of the parameters, they were similar or better. The result of Z- scores for weight of male infants exclusively breastfed and non-exclusively breastfed were the same, while the length of the exclusively breastfed and non-exclusively breastfed were 30% and 26% respectively. Wrong concept of exclusive breastfeeding and its wrong application were found to be the major factors affecting nutritional status of infants.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20140305.25
Published in International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences (Volume 3, Issue 5, September 2014)
Page(s) 462-470
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Nutritional, Assessment, Infants, Exclusively, Non-Exclusively, Breastfeed

References
[1] Okwy-Nweke C. P., Anyanwu J. O., Maduforo A. N. (2014). Mothers Beliefs and Obstacles as Limitations in Promoting Exclusive Breastfeeding among Working Class Mothers Attending Infant Welfare Clinic at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu State. Clinical Medicine Research. Vol. 3, No. 4, 2014, pp. 105-111. doi: 10.11648/j.cmr.20140304.15
[2] Nwosu O. I. C., Nnam N. N., Ibeziako N. and Maduforo A.N. (2014) Development and Nutritional Evaluation of Infant Complementary Food from Maize (Zea Mays), Soybean (Glycine Max) and Moringa Oleifera Leaves. International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences. Vol. 3, No. 4, 2014, pp. 290-299. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20140304.19
[3] Martorell R, Kettel K. L, and Schroeder D.G. (1994) Reversibility of stunting: epidemiological findings in children from developing countries. Eur J Clin Nutr; S45- S57.
[4] WHO (2001) The optimal duration of exclusive breastfeeding: report of an expert consultation (WHO/FCH/CAH/01.24) Geneva: March 2001.
[5] Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (2013). National Population Commission Federal Republic of Nigeria Abuja, Nigeria. MEASURE DHS, ICF Macro Calverton, Maryland, USA,
[6] United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) (2012) Infant and Young Child Feeding. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) June 2012
[7] Hallgren, O. Aits, S. Brest, P. (2008). Infant Nutrition, breastfeeding and obesity. British Medical journal
[8] Maduforo, A.N. And Onuoha R.O. (2011) Relativities of Exclusive Breastfeeding between Urban and Rural Lactating Women in Imo State. Journal of Research In National Development (Jorind) Volume 9 Number 1(a) 31 – 36. ISSN 1596 – 8308 JUNE, 2011. www.transcampus.org/journal; www.ajol.info/journals/jorind
[9] Aso, C. U (1999); Baby friendly Hospital initiative, A paper presentation, a global and National perspective. American Journal on Public Health.
[10] United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) (2014). The state of the world’s children 2014 in numbers: Revealing disparities, advancing children’s rights: Every child counts. UNICEF
[11] Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) (2003). National Population Commission Federal Republic of Nigeria Abuja, Nigeria. MEASURE DHS, ICF Macro Calverton, Maryland, USA.
[12] Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) (2013). National Population Commission Federal Republic of Nigeria Abuja, Nigeria. MEASURE DHS, ICF Macro Calverton, Maryland, USA.
[13] Government of Federal Republic of Nigeria (2010). MDG Report 2010: Nigeria Millennium Development Goals. Abuja, Nigeria: Government of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
[14] Maduforo, A.N, Ubah N.C and Obiakor – Okeke P.N. (2013) The Practice Of Exclusive Breastfeeding By Lactating Women In Owerri Metropolis, Imo State, Nigeria. Glo. Adv. Res. J. Med. Med. Sci. January 2013 2(1): 013-019 http://www.garj.org/garjmms.
Author Information
  • Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Ituku Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria

  • Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Ituku Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria

  • Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Ituku Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria

  • Department of Dietetics, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana

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    Ndiokwelu Chika, Nwosu Odinakachukwu, Uwaoma Eucharia, Maduforo Aloysius. (2014). Nutritional Assessment of Exclusively Breastfed and Non-Exclusively Breastfed Infants Aged (0 – 6 Months) at Mother of Christ Specialist Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences, 3(5), 462-470. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20140305.25

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    Ndiokwelu Chika; Nwosu Odinakachukwu; Uwaoma Eucharia; Maduforo Aloysius. Nutritional Assessment of Exclusively Breastfed and Non-Exclusively Breastfed Infants Aged (0 – 6 Months) at Mother of Christ Specialist Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. Int. J. Nutr. Food Sci. 2014, 3(5), 462-470. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20140305.25

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    AMA Style

    Ndiokwelu Chika, Nwosu Odinakachukwu, Uwaoma Eucharia, Maduforo Aloysius. Nutritional Assessment of Exclusively Breastfed and Non-Exclusively Breastfed Infants Aged (0 – 6 Months) at Mother of Christ Specialist Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. Int J Nutr Food Sci. 2014;3(5):462-470. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20140305.25

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijnfs.20140305.25,
      author = {Ndiokwelu Chika and Nwosu Odinakachukwu and Uwaoma Eucharia and Maduforo Aloysius},
      title = {Nutritional Assessment of Exclusively Breastfed and Non-Exclusively Breastfed Infants Aged (0 – 6 Months) at Mother of Christ Specialist Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria},
      journal = {International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences},
      volume = {3},
      number = {5},
      pages = {462-470},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijnfs.20140305.25},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20140305.25},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnfs.20140305.25},
      abstract = {Background: The assessment of Nutritional status of infants, aged 0-6 Months (Exclusively breastfed and non- exclusively breastfed) was conducted at Mother of Christ Specialist Hospital, Ogui, Enugu State, Nigeria. The aim of the survey was to find out if mothers truly practice exclusive breastfeeding, the ratio of mothers who practice exclusive breastfeeding to those who do not, to compare the nutritional status of infants who were breastfed exclusively with those who were not and to find out factors that discouraged mothers from practicing exclusive breastfeeding. Methodology: Structured questionnaires were validated by Dietitians and administered. The questionnaires were administered to two hundred mothers who were randomly selected. Anthropometric measurements (weight, length, head circumference and chest circumference) of babies were taken and recorded. The data collected were analyzed using statistical methods, which included mean, chi square, t-test, z-score, correlations, frequencies and percentages. Result: The study, revealed that (194) mothers breastfed their babies generally while (6) did not. One hundred and Sixty four (82%) practiced exclusive breastfeeding and 15% (30) did not breastfeed their babies exclusively. There was significant relationship between the levels of mothers' education and nutritional status of the infants. The mean age of the males exclusively breastfed was (9.86) while that of the females was (9.74) and the mean length was (61.96) and (60.92) receptively. The result of the anthropometric measurements showed that most of the parameters were better in exclusively breastfeed than in non-exclusively breastfeed infants though in some of the parameters, they were similar or better. The result of Z- scores for weight of male infants exclusively breastfed and non-exclusively breastfed were the same, while the length of the exclusively breastfed and non-exclusively breastfed were 30% and 26% respectively. Wrong concept of exclusive breastfeeding and its wrong application were found to be the major factors affecting nutritional status of infants.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Nutritional Assessment of Exclusively Breastfed and Non-Exclusively Breastfed Infants Aged (0 – 6 Months) at Mother of Christ Specialist Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria
    AU  - Ndiokwelu Chika
    AU  - Nwosu Odinakachukwu
    AU  - Uwaoma Eucharia
    AU  - Maduforo Aloysius
    Y1  - 2014/09/30
    PY  - 2014
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20140305.25
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20140305.25
    T2  - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences
    JF  - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences
    JO  - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences
    SP  - 462
    EP  - 470
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2327-2716
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20140305.25
    AB  - Background: The assessment of Nutritional status of infants, aged 0-6 Months (Exclusively breastfed and non- exclusively breastfed) was conducted at Mother of Christ Specialist Hospital, Ogui, Enugu State, Nigeria. The aim of the survey was to find out if mothers truly practice exclusive breastfeeding, the ratio of mothers who practice exclusive breastfeeding to those who do not, to compare the nutritional status of infants who were breastfed exclusively with those who were not and to find out factors that discouraged mothers from practicing exclusive breastfeeding. Methodology: Structured questionnaires were validated by Dietitians and administered. The questionnaires were administered to two hundred mothers who were randomly selected. Anthropometric measurements (weight, length, head circumference and chest circumference) of babies were taken and recorded. The data collected were analyzed using statistical methods, which included mean, chi square, t-test, z-score, correlations, frequencies and percentages. Result: The study, revealed that (194) mothers breastfed their babies generally while (6) did not. One hundred and Sixty four (82%) practiced exclusive breastfeeding and 15% (30) did not breastfeed their babies exclusively. There was significant relationship between the levels of mothers' education and nutritional status of the infants. The mean age of the males exclusively breastfed was (9.86) while that of the females was (9.74) and the mean length was (61.96) and (60.92) receptively. The result of the anthropometric measurements showed that most of the parameters were better in exclusively breastfeed than in non-exclusively breastfeed infants though in some of the parameters, they were similar or better. The result of Z- scores for weight of male infants exclusively breastfed and non-exclusively breastfed were the same, while the length of the exclusively breastfed and non-exclusively breastfed were 30% and 26% respectively. Wrong concept of exclusive breastfeeding and its wrong application were found to be the major factors affecting nutritional status of infants.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 5
    ER  - 

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