Project Abstract

Project Overview

<p> </p><p>Weaning<br>is the introduction of supplementary food to a child’s diet after the first six<br>months of life. Early introduction of feeds and incorrect weaning practices are<br>commonly found in communities around the world. This research was designed to<br>explore infant weaning knowledge and practices among mothers.</p><p>Descriptive<br>research design was adopted. The population were 260 mothers attending three<br>Primary Healthcare Centres in Ikenne Local Government. Sample size was<br>determined using Leslie Kish formula and simple random sampling was adopted to<br>select 100 mothers for the study. A designed questionnaire was used to collect<br>data from participants. Face and content validity of the questionnaire was<br>ascertained by presenting it to experts in the field. Reliability was tested<br>using split-half method and Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient was 0.85.<br>Data was processed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version<br>21. Two research questions were answered using descriptive statistics of mean<br>standard deviation. Four hypotheses were tested using inferential statistics of<br>Pearson correlation at 0.05 level of significance.</p><p>The study revealed that 8(8%)<br>of mothers had low knowledge level on infant weaning, 50(50%) had moderate<br>knowledge level and 42(42%) had high knowledge level. Also, 3(3%) of mothers<br>had high practice level on infant weaning, 66(66%) had moderate practice level<br>and 31(31%) had low practice level on infant weaning. There is a significant relationship<br>between occupation and weaning practices among mothers (r = 0.035; p = 0.004). There is<br>also a significant relationship between educational level and<br>weaning practices among mothers (r = 0.003; p = 0.000), whereas there is no significant relationship<br>between ethnicity and infant weaning practices among mothers (r = 0.036; p = 0.723) and there<br>is a significant relationship between mothers knowledge level<br>and infant weaning practices among mothers (r = 0.086; p = 0.001).</p><p>In conclusion, infant weaning knowledge<br>and practices among mothers is moderate. The study recommended that nurses<br>should regularly train mothers on infant weaning to improve their knowledge and<br>practice regarding infant weaning.</p><p><b>Keywords: </b>Weaning, Mother, Knowledge, Practice,<br>Infants</p><p><b>CHAPTER ONE</b></p><p><b>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; INTRODUCTION</b></p><p><b>1.1 &nbsp; Background to the Study</b></p><p>Weaning is the introduction of supplementary food to a child’s diet<br>after the first six months of life. Infant weaning with supplementary feeds of<br>breast milk substitutes, early introduction of complementary feeding and<br>incorrect weaning from breast milk are commonly found practices in communities<br>around the world (Inayati, Scherbaum, Purwestri, Hormann, Wirawan, Suryantan,<br>Hartono, Bloem, Pangaribuan, Biesalki, Hoffmann, &amp; Bellows, 2012). The<br>period of weaning could involve a lot of problems and usually information gap exist<br>in relation to how and when weaning takes place. Adequate nutrition during<br>infancy and early childhood is essential for growth and development of children<br>(Ashmika, Deerajen, Prity &amp; Rajesh, 2013). It has been recognized worldwide<br>that breastfeeding is beneficial for both the mother and child as breastmilk is<br>considered the best source of nutrition for an infant (Ku &amp; Chow, 2010).<br>The World Health Organization (WHO) as said by Hanif (2011 recommends that<br>infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months after which complementary<br>foods are introduced along with breastmilk for up to two years of age or<br>beyond. The first two years of life are critical stages for a child’s growth<br>and development. Any damage caused by nutritional deficiencies during this<br>period could lead to impaired cognitive development, compromised educational<br>achievement and low economic productivity (Kimani-Murage, Madise, Fotso,<br>Kyobutungi, Mutau, Gitau &amp; Yatich, 2011).</p><p>Poor breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices, together<br>with high rates of morbidity from infectious diseases are the prime proximate<br>causes of malnutrition in the first two years of life. Breastfeeding confers<br>both short-term and long-term benefits to a child. It reduces infections and<br>mortality among infants, improves mental and motor development, and protects<br>against obesity and metabolic diseases later in life (WHO, 2010). According to<br>Kimani-Murage <i>et al</i>., (2011), the WHO<br>recommends exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months, beginning from the<br>first hour of life, to meet the infant’s nutritional requirements and achieve<br>optimal growth, development and health. The mother is advised to continue<br>breastfeeding up to two years of age or more and begin nutritionally adequate,<br>safe, and appropriately-fed complementary foods at the age of six months in<br>order to meet the evolving needs of the growing infant. Since weaning is a process<br>by which food other than breast milk is introduced gradually into baby’s diet,<br>first to complement the breast milk and then to wean totally off breast milk involve<br>selecting light nutritious food for easy absorption. Then later replace light<br>nutritious food with thicker feed using hygiene practices when preparing them<br>but majority of nutrition problems in rural areas are due to faulty weaning<br>food (Shadia &amp; Bedor, 2013).</p><p>Predictors of breastfeeding and weaning practices vary between and<br>within countries. Factors that influence the weaning process include infant<br>feeding problems such as refusal to eat, colic, diarrhoea and vomiting (Ashmika<br><i>et al</i>., 2013). These factors<br>represent challenges for mothers and in turn may either directly or indirectly<br>influence the feeding pattern. In view of the identified factors, which are early<br>introduction of complementary feeding and incorrect weaning from breast milk,<br>the researcher would carry out a study on infant weaning knowledge and practices<br>among mothers in ikenne local government area, Ogun State</p><p><b>1.2 Statement<br>of the Problem</b></p><p>Weaning has been one of the most wrongly practiced processes in the<br>developmental stages of the children. It <br>was observed that mothers give their infant other food apart from breast<br>milk right from birth while some delayed supplementary diet till above Nine<br>months with either cases having negative effect on the infant. WHO (Hanif,<br>2011) recommends a gradual weaning period from 6 months to 2 years, this allows<br>for the child to still receive the benefits from breastfeeding, while also<br>consuming the necessary nutrients from the complementary foods. But almost half<br>of the mothers (52%) abruptly weaned their children while only 11.6% gradually<br>weaned their children as complementary food is being added to the children diet<br>(Somiya, 2014). The time of weaning is one of the most critical aspects of<br>child’s life. It is the transition period at which the child whose main food used<br>to be milk changes over to adult food. Usually if this period of change in diet<br>is well-planned and progresses smoothly, there will be no setbacks, but in a<br>large number of children, malnutrition usuallytakes place during this period.<br>Ten million children under the age of 5 years old die each year (Somiya, 2014).<br>More than half of the deaths occur because of poor weaning that leads to<br>malnutrition. If adequate health systems were in place nearly two-third of the<br>deaths could be prevented. The most vulnerable period for developing<br>under-nutrition remains the transition from breastfeeding to family foods.<br>Malnourished children often suffer the loss of precious mental capacities. They<br>fall ill more often. If they survive, they may grow up with lasting mental or<br>physical disabilities (Dinesh &amp; Sushilkumar, 2011).</p><p>Poor quality of weaning foods and improper weaning practices<br>predispose infants to malnutrition, growth retardation, infection, diseases and<br>high mortality (Somiya, 2014). Food is expected to be prepared adequately<br>containing the required nutrients as well as appropriate with a suitable<br>texture and temperature. Without the knowledge of proper weaning practices as<br>well as a perception of the child’s hunger needs, malnutrition and illness may<br>ensue. Thus, the weaning period is therefore a vulnerable time when the child<br>should be attentively cared for and observed so as to maintain health (Somiya,<br>2014). Therefore, information gotten on weaning will improve mother’s practice<br>of weaning since the mother is the most important person in a baby’s life for<br>both its physical as well as its psychosocial care and growth. The mother-infant<br>relationship is the most vital formative relationship for the child. There<br>arises a need to prevent wrong assumption of mothers on weaning process and<br>timing, there is need for sound education, effective information and sufficient<br>knowledge of weaning to be instilled in mothers. Nurses can be agent of<br>carrying out the educational needs for weaning infants in proper way.<br>Therefore, the need for a study on infant weaning knowledge and practices among<br>mothers in Ikenne Local Government Area, Ogun State.</p><p><b>1.3 Objective<br>of the Study</b></p><p>The main objective of this study is to explore infant weaning<br>knowledge and practices among mothers in Ikenne local government area, Ogun<br>State. The specific objectives are to:</p><ol><li>determine the knowledge<br>level on infant weaning among mothers attending three Primary Healthcare<br>Centres in Ikenne Local Government Area;</li></ol><p>2. &nbsp; &nbsp; assess the practice level on infant weaning among mothers attending<br>three Primary Healthcare Centres in Ikenne Local Government Area;</p><p>3. &nbsp; &nbsp; assess the relationship between occupation and infant<br>weaning practices among mothers attending<br>three Primary Healthcare Centres in Ikenne Local Government Area;</p><p>4. &nbsp; &nbsp; identify the relationship between ethnicity and infant<br>weaning practices among mothers attending<br>three Primary Healthcare Centres in Ikenne Local Government Area;</p><p>5. &nbsp; &nbsp; assess the relationship between educational level and<br>infant weaning practices among mothers attending three Primary Healthcare Centres in Ikenne Local Government<br>Area and</p><p>6. &nbsp; &nbsp; to determine the relationship between mothers<br>knowledge level and infant weaning practices attending three Primary Healthcare Centres in Ikenne Local Government<br>Area.</p><p><b>1.4 &nbsp;</b><b>Research Questions &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; </b></p><p>The following research questions were answered:</p><p>1. &nbsp; &nbsp; <br>What is<br>the knowledge level on infant weaning among mothers attending three Primary<br>Healthcare Centres in Ikenne Local Government Area.</p><p>2. &nbsp; &nbsp; What is the practice level on infant weaning among mothers attending<br>three Primary Healthcare Centres in Ikenne Local Government Area.</p><p>1.5 &nbsp;<b>&nbsp;Hypotheses &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; </b>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; </p><p>The following hypotheses were tested at 0.05<br>level of significance.</p><p>HO1. There is no significant<br>relationship between occupation and infant weaning &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; practices among<br>mothers attending three Primary Healthcare Centres in<br>Ikenne Local</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Government Area.</p><p>HO2.There is no significant relationship between<br>ethnicity and infant weaning practices among</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; mothers attending three Primary Healthcare Centres in Ikenne Local Government<br>Area.</p><p>HO3.There is no significant relationship between<br>educational level and infant weaning practices &nbsp; </p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; among mothers attending three Primary Healthcare Centres in Ikenne Local<br>Government &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; </p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Area.</p><p>HO4.There is no significant relationship between mothers<br>knowledge level and infant weaning</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; practices attending three Primary Healthcare Centres in Ikenne Local<br>Government Area.</p><p><b>1.6 Scope<br>of the Study</b></p><p>This study covered infant weaning knowledge and<br>practices among mothers in Ikenne Local Government A rea, Ogun State. The study<br>is limited by recruitment of participants</p><p><b>1.7 Justification<br>for the Study</b></p><p>The study would help to establish inadequacy in infant weaning<br>knowledge and practice among mothers and also provide baseline data for<br>subsequent studies on infant weaning knowledge and practices among mothers.</p><p>This study would also help to provide recommendations for improving<br>inadequacies in infant weaning knowledge and practices among mothers.</p><p>The study would also assist health institutions and the government<br>at the federal, state and local level to plan strategies to improve infant<br>weaning knowledge and practices among mothers.</p><p><b>1.8 Operational<br>Definition of Terms</b></p><ol><li><b>Weaning:</b>&nbsp;introduction<br>of supplementary food to a child’s diet after the first six months of<br>life.</li><li><b>Mother:<br></b>Women who has a child with age from birth to 24 months.</li><li><b>Knowledge:</b><br>Mothers understanding regarding infant weaning as measured by knowledge<br>score.</li><li><b>Practice:</b><br>Mothers activity regarding infant weaning as measured by practice score.</li><li><b>Infants</b>:<br>children aged from birth to 24 months of age.</li><li><b>Ikenne<br>local government area:</b>&nbsp;A local government area in Ogun state.</li></ol> <br><p></p>