IMPORTANCE OF EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING ON THE HEALTH OF CHILDREN UNDER FIVE

1.1 Introduction

Breastfeeding served and continues to serve as an appropriate method through which newborns are offered essential nutrients necessary for optimal growth and intellectual development. Breast milk is regarded as perfect, natural and protective food for newborns. Given that prolonging people’s lives and preventing disease are some of the goals of public health (Brulde, 2011), breastfeeding and/or EBF has been acknowledged as an effective approach to the achievement of these goals. Infants when exclusively breastfed for the optimal duration of six months are significantly protected against the major childhood diseases conditions viz. diarrhoea, gastrointestinal tract infection, allergic diseases, diabetes, obesity, childhood leukaemia and lymphoma, inflammatory and bowel disease (WHO, 2012; American Academy of Pediatrics, 2012).

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Breastfeeding has many health benefits for both the mother and the infant. Breast milk is not only a source of food but contains immune related components and various biologically active substances that contribute to efficient nutrient utilization and gives the child active and passive protection against infections. Breast milk provides all of the nutrients, vitamins and minerals an infant needs for growth for the first six months of life. Optimal breastfeeding practices in the first two years of life can have the single largest impact on child survival of all preventive interventions. Breast feeding provides many health benefits for the mother. These benefits includes more rapid recovery from childbirth, decreased postpartum bleeding, delayed return to fertility, reduced risk for breast and ovarian cancers, and less bladder and other infections. In developing countries and in Nigeria for instance, breastfeeding can be the difference between life and death for several reasons, including poor hygiene, prevalence of malaria and lack of safe drinking water. An exclusively breastfed child is less likely to die in the first six months than a non-exclusively breastfed child. Adequate nutrition during early life is critical for cognitive, mental and physical development.

Through the course of human history, the feeding of the new born has puzzled man. A lot has been written about what is more beneficial for the growth and wellbeing of the child, mostly outlining breastfeeding’s pivotal role (Papastavrou, 2014). The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life, from six months onwards, continued breastfeeding combined with complementary foods of good quality and in the right quantity for two years is recommended. Exclusive breastfeeding means that the child only receives breast milk, and if necessary the addition of vitamins, minerals and medicine for the first six months of life. The (WHO) recommendation applies to all countries and populations regardless of economic status or developmental level.

This period ensures proper development and plays a significant role in lifelong health outcomes. Inadequate nutrition during pregnancy and the first two years of life can lead to irreversible limitation in the ability of a child to achieve his or her full potential. These outcomes may include delays mental development, reduced mental capacity, reduced school performance and working capacity and overall increased susceptibility to diseases and infections. An undernourished child has an increased risk of dying from diarrhea, measles, malaria and pneumonia. The first 1000 days of life from conception through the first two years of life is often referred to as “window of opportunity” because of the profound positive effect optional nutrition can have on the developing child and due to the fact that damage during this period is often permanent and irreversible.

Human breast milk provides energy, nutrients and trace elements that are required by infants until weaning. During lactation, bone is mobilized and exerts influence on the availability of these macro-elements to the mineral poll that supply the mammary gland. Kinsara (2006) posited that human breast milk composition is dependent on many maternal and gestational factors ranging from stage of lactation, maternal age, maternal nutritional status, diet, parity and gestational age. A woman’s appetite increases during pregnancy and lactation, these results in increase in food intake. This occurs because the energy, protein and other nutrients in breast milk comes from the mothers’ diet or from her own body stores, so there is need for increased food intake to compensate for the demand of lactation. In sub-Sahara Africa, many women suffer from chronic under-nutrition and micronutrient deficiencies and fail to gain enough weight during pregnancy. This could be traced to the low standard of living, unemployment and global economic recession and failure of government at all levels to provide for its citizens basic amenities. This has a great impact on the rate at which the young infant is breastfed. in the present study, we will be looking at the effects of maternal nutrition on the actualization of exclusive breastfeeding.

This research work will also be looking at other constraints that can cause the discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding and also make recommendations on how to improve mothers’ adherence to the campaign on exclusive breastfeeding.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that the importance of exclusive breastfeeding cannot be overemphasized. Government at all levels and health practitioners have embarked on various health outreaches to encourage exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of the infant’s life. However, these interventions seems not to be yielding the desired results as there are several maternal factors that could hinder the continuation of exclusive breastfeeding which could range from maternal occupation, perception, socio-economic status etc. Therefore the present study aims at investigating the relationship between maternal nutrition, quality of life and exclusive breastfeeding in a sample of mothers from the study area.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to examine the importance of exclusive breastfeeding on the health of 0-5years Children. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To investigate the effects of maternal nutrition on exclusive breastfeeding of 0-5years Children;
2. To determine the implication of maternal perception on exclusive breastfeeding;
3. To identify the effects of maternal occupation on the actualization of exclusive breastfeeding; and
4. To examine the influence of maternal socio-economic status on the practice of exclusive breastfeeding.

1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• What is the influence of maternal socio-economic status on the practice of exclusive breastfeeding?
• What are the effects of maternal nutrition on exclusive breastfeeding of 0-5years Children?
• What is the implication of maternal perception on exclusive breastfeeding?
• What are the effects of maternal occupation on the actualization of exclusive breastfeeding?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: Maternal occupation does not have significant effect on the actualization of exclusive breastfeeding
• H1: Maternal occupation has significant effect on the actualization of exclusive breastfeeding

Hypothesis Two

• H0: There is no significant influence of maternal perception on exclusive breastfeeding among 0-5years Children
• H1: There is significant influence of maternal perception on exclusive breastfeeding among 0-5years Children

1.7 Significance of Study

Inspite of government, Health practitioners and non-governmental organizations effort over the years, to sensitize the people of Egor Local Government Area through seminars, lectures, workshops and door to door campaign on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding to both mother and child, little has been done in the area of research to ascertain if this outreach is yielding desired result in terms of attitudinal change of the people of the local government. Data are not readily available to show progress made or otherwise. This prompted the need for this research work. This study will also serves as a basis for more research work on the field of study.

This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Importance of Exclusive Breastfeeding on the health of 0-5years Children. The present study only deals with nursing mothers in Egor Local Government Area and also the use of questionnaire for data collection.

1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint:The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Establishment Policies:Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
3. Research Material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

1.10 Operational Definition of Terms

These are precise descriptions of how to derive a value for characteristics the researcher is measuring. It also entails how specific these characteristics are;

Exclusive Breastfeeding:

This means giving a baby only breast milk, and no other liquids or solids, not even water unless medically indicated. This should be for the first 6 months (NIYCF, 2007).

Under-fives:

They are Children who are less than five years old, especially those who are not in full-time education.

Exclusive Replacement Feeding:

This is the process of feeding a child who is not breastfeeding with a diet that provides all the nutrients the child needs until the child is fully fed on family foods. Infant formula is recommended for exclusive replacement feeding when AFASS (Acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe) is met (NIYCF, 2007).

Wet Nursing:

This refers to breastfeeding by another woman, who is HIV-negative. This may only be considered in special situations such as in case of an orphaned infant and the family cannot meet AFASS. The wet nurse should be tested every three months (NIYCF, 2007).

Bottle Feeding:

Feeding an infant from a bottle, whatever is in the bottle including expressed milk (NIYCF, 2007).

Breast Milk Substitute:

Any food being marketed or otherwise represented as a partial or total replacement for breast milk, whether or not suitable for that purpose (NIYCF, 2007).

Complementary Food:

It is any food, whether manufactured or locally prepared; suitable as a complement to breast milk or to infant formula when either becomes insufficient to satisfy the nutritional requirements of the infant (NIYCF, 2007).