Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
INTRODUCTION
Exclusive breastfeeding as defined by the World Health Organisation is the exclusive intake of breast milk by an
infant from its mother or wet nurse or expressed milk with the addition of no other liquid or solids with the
exception of drops or syrups consisting of vitamins, mineral supplements or medicine and nothing else (WHO,
1991). Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the health, growth and development of
infants. It is also an integral part of the reproductive process with important implication for the health of mothers
(http://www.who.inE/child-adolescent health/Nutrition/infant_exclusive.htmp1). Exclusive breastfeeding has
been recommended world over by the World Health Organisation and United Nations Children Fund as the
optimal feeding mode for young infants especially in environments where sanitation is poor (Feachem and
Kobinsky, 1984). Breastfeeding has several benefits for the infant, mother and community. These include
reductions in infant morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases, diarrhoeal incidence and allergies
(Uchendu et al, 2009; Ogbonna and Daboer, 2007). Longer duration of breastfeeding is associated with better
cognitive development, improvement of intelligence Horwood and Ferguson, 1998; Ferguson and Woodward,
1997), protection against development of asthma and wheeze in children and reduction in adolescent obesity
(Scariati et al, 1997). Maternal benefits of breastfeeding include lactational amenorrhoea which enhances child
spacing and early mother-infant bonding and reduction in infant abandonment and child abuse (Vekemas, 1997;
Lvoff et al, 2000). There is also reduction in the overall financial burden to government and families. A review
of evidence has shown that on a population basis, exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is the optimal way of
feeding infants. Thereafter, infants should receive complementary foods with continued breastfeeding up to 2
years of age or beyond.5 Faced with the rising infant and early childhood morbidity and mortality rates and
following the Innocenti Declaration in 1990 at Florence in Italy, the World Health Organisation launched the
19
20
21
Number Exam
16-20
21-25
26-30
31-35
36-40
41-45
Marital status
Single mother
Married
Educational status
Nil formal education
Primary education
Secondary education
Post-secondary education
Occupational status
Civil servant
Unemployed housewife
Petty trader
Teacher
Farmer
220
220
220
220
220
220
Frequency
20
45
96
42
12
5
Mean age=27.9 5.6
Percent (%)
9.1
20.5
43.6
19.1
5.4
2.3
220
220
27
193
12.3
97.7
220
220
220
220
14
33
92
81
6.4
15.0
41.8
36.8
220
220
220
220
220
67
20
82
23
28
30.5
9.1
37.3
10.5
12.7
22
16-20
21-25
26-30
31-35
36-40
41-45
Total
20
45
96
42
12
5
220
3 (15.0)
13 (28.9)
20 (20.8)
9 (21.4)
1 (8.3)
- (0)
46 (20.9)
7 (35.0)
9 (20.0)
15 (15.6)
7 (16.7)
3 (25.0)
- (0)
41 (18.6)
10 (50.0)
23 (51.1)
61 (63.5)
26 (61.9)
8 (6.7)
5 (100.0)
133 (60.5)
Chi-square:
Educational status
Nil formal education
Primary education
Secondary education
Post-primary education
Total
14
33
92
81
220
- (0)
8 (24.2)
20 (21.7)
18 (22.2)
46 (20.9)
9 (64.3)
7 (21.2)
12 (13.0)
13 (16.0)
41 (18.6)
5 (35.7)
18 (54.5)
60 (65.3)
50 (61.7)
133 (60.5)
Chi-square:
Marital status
Single mother
Married
Total
27
193
220
4 (14.8)
42 (21.8)
46 (20.9)
12 (44.4)
29 (15.0)
41 (18.6)
11 (40.7)
122 (63.2)
133 (60.5)
Chi-square:
Occupational status
Civil servant
Unemployed housewife
Petty trader
Teacher
Farmer
Total
67
20
82
23
21
220
Chi-square:
17 (25.4)
3 (15.0)
22 (26.8)
4 (17.4)
- (0)
46 (20.9)
8 (11.9)
1 (5.0)
14 (17.1)
3 (13.0)
8 (38.1)
41 (18.6)
42 (62.7)
16 (80.0)
46 (56.1)
16 (69.6)
13 (61.9)
133 (60.5)
23