| Summary: | Introduction
Malnutrition in childhood has been linked
with inappropriate and ineffective feeding practices
especially during the first year of life. This study assessed
the knowledge and factors associated with complementary
feeding among postpartum mothers in Nigeria.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was performed in Osun
State, Nigeria, in September 2019. Sample size was estimated
using Fisher’s formula for simple proportion and mothers
were selected through multi-stage sampling. Data from 193
postpartum mothers were analyzed using SPSS software
version 22 at univariate, bivariate and multivariate levels,
p<0.05 was considered significant.
Results
Findings showed that 28.0% of postpartum mothers
practiced exclusive breastfeeding, 39.9% introduced
complementary feeding within the first 3 months, 32.1%
commenced complementary feeding between the 4th and 5th
month, 36.3% of the mothers fed their infants with minimum
meal frequency, 52.3% fed their infants with the minimum
dietary diversity, and 25.4% fed their infants with minimum
acceptable diets. Regression analysis revealed that minimum
meal frequency was significantly associated with having
good knowledge about complementary feeding (OR=2.21;
95% CI: 1.31–3.73, p=0.03), tertiary education (OR=0.18;
95% CI: 0.05–0.59, p=0.01) and household food security
(OR=0.49; 95% CI: 0.26–0.94, p=0.03). Minimum acceptable
diet remained significantly associated with mothers having
good knowledge about complementary feeding (OR=2.67;
95% CI: 1.38–5.14, p=0.003) and highest educational level
(OR=0.11; 95% CI: 0.02–0.71, p=0.02).
Conclusions
Postpartum mother’s nutritional knowledge,
education level and household food security were main
predictors of complementary feeding practices among
postpartum mothers, effective nutritional intervention
on infants’ feeding should therefore take cognizance and
address these variables.
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