The Effect of Maternal Nutrition on the Exclusive Breastfeeding of Infants
Chapter One
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of maternal nutrition on exclusive breastfeeding.
- To ascertain the influence of maternal socio-economic status, occupation and perception on the attainment of exclusive breastfeeding
- To ascertain the relationship between material nutrition and breastfeeding of infant
- To ascertain the impact of breastfeeding on a child health
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
INFANT FEEDING PRACTICE
Infant feeding practice includes breastfeeding and complementary feeding.
Breastfeeding Practices
Mother’s milk has just the right amounts of fat, sugar, water, and protein needed for baby’s growth and development. Breast milk contains antibodies which help protect infants from bacterial and viral infections. Human milk straight from the breast is always sterile. Breastfeeding help mothers to bond with the baby. Physical contact is important to newborns and helps them feel more secure, warm and comforted. Nursing uses up extra calories, making it easier to lose the pounds gained from pregnancy. Breastfeeding helps the uterus to get back to its original size more quickly and lessens any bleeding the mother may have after birth. Breastfeeding also may lower risk of breast and ovarian cancers (UN, 2005). Exclusive breastfeeding (EBP) is recommended for the first six month of infant life because it is strongly correlated with increased child survival and reduced risk of morbidity, particularly from diarrhoeal diseases. Overall in Kenya only 13% of infants under 6 months are exclusively breastfed (CBS, 2003). Women delivering in health facilities and at home are encouraged to initiate breast feeding within the first 30 minutes after birth except for HIV positive mothers who have chosen not to breastfeed. Bottle feeding is discouraged. Early initiation of breastfeeding increases the chances of breast feeding success and generally lengthens the duration of breastfeeding. Mixed breast feeding for HIV positive mothers may increase the risk of HIV infection and is discouraged CBS, 2003). Colostrum is secreted for the first few days after delivery. Colostrum contains more antibodies and white blood cells that give the baby “immunization” to protect him/her against most bacteria and viruses. Colostrum is also rich in growth factors which stimulate a baby immature intestine to develop and is a laxative which helps the baby to pass meconium (the first, very dark stools). This helps prevent jaundice (King. 1992).
Complementary Feeding Practices
The period of complementary feeding should begin when breast milk alone no longer satisfies the nutritional requirements o f the infants. The period of complementary feeding ends when the child no longer takes the breast milk but eats family foods. Timely, safe and adequate initiation of complementary feeding with continued breastfeeding is recommended as high priority in global nutrition. Indeed the continued growth faltering of many children worldwide suggest that complementary practices remain inadequate in terms of timeliness, quality, and safety (WHO UNICEF, 2003). Modem infant feeding practices recommends initiation o f complementary feeding by about six months after birth. Complementary foods should as much as possible be energy and nutrient dense, easily obtained and prepared by the family, culturally acceptable, of appropriate consistency for the age and development stage of the infant, and clean and safe for consumption (Coutsoudis, 2004).
CHALLENGES IN INFANT FEEDING PRACTICES
Many unsubstantiated beliefs and altitudes about breastfeeding prevent many mothers from exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months as recommended. The most common of these beliefs and altitudes include:
1) Mothers unfounded fear that the milk is insufficient and/or of poor quality.
2) Delay in initiating breastfeeding and discarding colostrums
3) Belief that infants become thirsty and need extra fluid
4) Lack of support from health services and
5) Also, marketing of breast milk substitutes have led to the belief that the products are superior to breast milk, thereby undermining breastfeeding practices. This problem has led to the development and use of the Code of marketing of breast milk substitutes (Coutsoudis, 2004). Bottle feeding is common in Kenya, 27% of infants under six months are feed with a bottle with a nipple (CBS, 2003). Bottle feeding if not practiced hygienically may result in increased child morbidity due to unsafe water and preparation facilities. Sometimes bottle feeding is introduced or recommended by Health workers in cases of mothers who take time to generate sufficient milk for the baby, to give prelacteal foods. The prelacteal foods given to the infants vary but in most cases include glucose water and diluted cow’s milk. Finally, bottle feeding may make the baby suffer nipple confusion and may even lead to the refusal to suck from the breast altogether (Kings, 1992).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to the effect of maternal nutrition on the exclusive breastfeeding of infant
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information the effect of maternal nutrition on the exclusive breastfeeding of infant. 200 nursing mothers in Egor local government of Edo state was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain the effect of maternal nutrition on the exclusive breastfeeding of infant
In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of maternal nutrition on the exclusive breastfeeding of infant
Summary
This study was the effect of maternal nutrition on the exclusive breastfeeding of infant. Three objectives were raised which included: 1. To ascertain the influence of maternal socio-economic status, occupation and perception on the attainment of exclusive breastfeeding, to ascertain the relationship between material nutrition and breastfeeding of infant, to ascertain the impact of breastfeeding on a child health. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 nursing mothers from Egor local government of Edo state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made up one month nursing mothers, two months nursing mothers, four months nursing mothers and five months nursing mothers were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
Results of the study shows minimal practice on exclusive breastfeeding. Almost all infants received additional foods before the age of one month. High adherence to practice was established in the aspects like the time of initiation of breastfeeding and breastfeeding on demand where the modem recommendations acknowledged the traditional practices. This was clear indication that traditional knowledge was still playing a major role in the choice o f breast feeding practices. Complementary foods were introduced very early after birth. Infact majority o f the infants were given prelacteal foods in accordance with the traditional practice. Modern knowledge had therefore not succeeded in influencing or even replacing the traditional practices on the introduction of complementary foods. The main reason given for early introduction of complementary foods was that the baby was not getting enough milk, because the mother did not have enough to eat due to poor socio-economic status of households.
Recommendation
The study findings suggest there is need for a paradigm shift in looking at infant feeding practices. Nutrition education does not seem to alter the entrenched cultural practices on infant feeding practices especially with regards to exclusive breastfeeding and the initiation of complementary foods because o f underlying factors such as poor maternal nutrition and low socio-economics status of households. This coupled with the fact that the nutritional status of the infants was apparently normal may suggest a multifaceted approach which puts all factors into consideration is required in order to improve infant feeding practices and hence improved growth and development o f the infants. TBAs should be recognized as making an important contribution, especially in the marginal areas where health facilities are very far from the community and therefore the health workers cannot reach the community with nutrition education and other health services. Also mothers cannot be able to cover the long distances under labour without risking the lives of the baby and may be the mother or both. The TBAs should be well trained in order to practice hygiene and safety measures in deliveries and disseminate accurate and consistent nutrition information. Nutrition education should be incorporated with other Community development programmes in the study area in order to reach the majority of the community who had a great influence on the mother’s choice on infant feeding practices. The government should ensure food security throughout the year especially in marginal areas by introducing drought resistant crop varieties and water harvesting technologies so that mothers may have adequate food in order to produce enough breast milk for the baby. This will enhance appropriate infant feeding practices. In times o f severe food shortages pregnant and lactating mothers should be targeted with nutrition interventions. Women empowerment should also be incorporated into nutrition programmes. This could include income generating activities and also linking the mothers with micro-finance institutions. Family planning should be enhanced to help reduce the household sizes. It should also be included in the nutrition education messages.
REFERENCES
- ACC/SCN (2000). Nutrition Throughout the Life Cycle. 4th Report on the World Nutrition Situation. January 2000.
- Geneva Agnarson. I., Mpello, A., Gunnlaugsson, G., Hofvander, Y., and Greiner. T. (1999). Infant feeding practices during the first six months of life, in a rural area in Tanzania. East African medical Journal. 78 (1): 9-13
- Ashene, C. K. (2006). Factors attributed to the prevalence of early complementary feeding of infants in Eastlands area of Nairobi. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Nairobi.
- CBS, (2003). Kenya Demographic Health Survey. Central Bureau of Statistics. Preliminary report. Nairobi, Kenya.
- Cohen. R. J., Brown, K. J., Canahautij, Rivera, L. L., Dewey, K. G., (1994). Effects of age of introduction of complementary foods on infant’s breast milk intake, total energy intake and growth: A Randomized Intervention Study in Honduras. The Lancet 334: 288-293
