Complementary feeding and associated factors: Assessing compliance with recommended guidelines among postpartum mothers in Nigeria

• Main Authors: Kolade A. Afolabi, Adebukunola O. Afolabi, Monisola Yetunde J. Omishakin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: European Publishing 2021-06-01
• Series: Population Medicine
• Subjects: complementary feeding; postpartum mothers; infants; nigeria
• Online Access: http://www.populationmedicine.eu/Complementary-feeding-and-associated-factors-Assessing-compliance-with-recommended,138939,0,2.html

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.