WEANING PRACTICES AMONG POST PARTUM MOTHERS ATTENDING INFANT WELFARE CLINIC

1.1 Introduction

Weaning is a process by which foods other than breast milk is introduced gradually into baby’s diet after the first six months of life to initially complement the breast milk and then to wean totally off breast milk (Shadia et al., 2013). Adequate nutrition during infancy and early childhood is essential for growth, health and development of children to their full potential (Ashmika et al., 2013). Infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months followed by breastfeeding along with complementary foods for up to two years of age or beyond (Hanif et al., 2011). At this age, breast milk is not always sufficient in providing adequate nutrition for the growing child hence the need for additional non-breast milk based complementary meal (Dewey, 2001).

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, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

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1.2 Background of Study

The practice of exclusive breastfeeding over the years is declining despite efforts at all levels to improve it; and with globalization there is concern of possible drift in the traditional weaning practices among Nigerian women. Weaning has been one of the most wrongly practised processes in the developmental stages of the children. It was observed that mothers give their infant other food apart from breast milk before the first six months of life which produces a negative effect on the infants health and wellbeing. Gradual weaning is recommended during the period from 6 months to 2 years which allows for the child to still receive the benefits from breastfeeding, while also consuming the necessary nutrients from the complementary foods (Hanif, 2011).

The first two years of life are critical stages for a child’s growth and development. Any damage caused by nutritional deficiencies during this period could lead to impaired cognitive development, compromised educational achievement and low economic productivity. Correct infant weaning confers both short-term and long-term benefits to a child such as reduction in rate of infections and mortality among infants, improvement in mental and motor development (Kimani-Murage et al., 2011).

Weaning period is a transitional phase in child’s feeding (Kramer et al., 2002; Umar et al., 2013). The transitional period from breastfeeding to adult diet (weaning period) is usually associated with a number of concerns and problems in developing countries. The major concerns are what foods should be given to the child, how and when they should be given (Hizel et al., 2006).

According to WHO, (2002) and Chaudhry and Humayun (2007), weaning is traditionally described as withdrawal from breast feeding i.e. when breast feeding is gradually replaced by semisolid food. The shift from exclusive breastfeeding to family foods is referred to as complementary feeding and complementary feeding is defined by World Health Organization as the addition of energy as well as non-energy containing fluids, non-human milk and semi- solids or solids to children's diet which covers the time from 6 months to 18 – 24 months of age (WHO, 2002; Chaudhry and Humayun, 2007).

The weaning period, which usually corresponds with the eruption of the child’s major dentition, implies that the child is ready to chew (Aliyu et al., 2019). The weaning period is a very susceptible period, since it is the point in which malnutrition set offs in many infants. Infants are predisposed to malnutrition as a result of poor quality of weaning foods, improper feeding and weaning practices, which can also predispose the infants to growth retardation, infectious diseases and high mortality rate (Rahul, Mohd and Rakesh, 2014; Mohammed, 2014).

Since poor feeding practices are major threat to social and economic development, they are among the most serious obstacles to attaining and maintaining health that face this age group (World Health Organization, 2002a). Poor quality of weaning foods and improper weaning practices predispose infants to malnutrition, growth retardation, infection, diseases and high mortality. Malnutrition, poor mental as well as physical status of the infant has persisted in infant welfare clinics (Somiya, 2014). Among preventive measures that would reduce the excess mortality for children under the age of five years, good quality complementary feeding, proper breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices have been listed as part and about 19% of this death can be prevented (Kavitha et al., 2014).

Therefore, in Warri Central Hospital where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Weaning Practices among Post Partum Mothers Attending Infant Welfare Clinic.

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1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that there are so many obstacles encountered by women during the period of breast feeding that prevents the practice of exclusive breast feeding such as husband refusal, painful nipple, infants’ refusal to suck and career. These obstacles might prevent the woman from achieving the new lifestyle, encountering difficulties with breastfeeding may cause a woman to wean her child off breast milk earlier than recommended or expected. Poverty is also a major obstacle to good weaning practices as it affects the quality and quantity of food fed to infants. Other barriers in relation to this study include, lack of education, tradition and lack of social support.

Poor weaning practices are the prime causes of malnutrition in the first two years of life and information gap exists in relation to how and when weaning takes place. The study explored infant Weaning Practices among Post Partum Mothers Attending Infant Welfare Clinic in Warri Central Hospital, Delta State.

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to examine the Weaning Practices among Post Partum Mothers Attending Infant Welfare Clinic using Warri Central Hospital, Delta State as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To assess the quality of the weaning feeds in the period of weaning feeding practice cessation by the mothers;
2. To find out whether ethnicity influence infant weaning practice among women attending Infant Welfare Clinic in the area under study;
3. To ascertain the time of weaning feeds introduction by mothers in the study area;
4. To examine the level of infant weaning feeding knowledge of mothers in the area under study; and
5. To determine the relationship between participants’ occupation, educational level, knowledge level and infant weaning practice.

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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:

• Does ethnicity influence infant weaning practice among women attending Infant Welfare Clinic in the area under study?
• What is the quality of the weaning feeds in the period of weaning feeding practice cessation by the mothers?
• What is the time of weaning feeds introduction by mothers in the study area?
• What is the level of infant weaning feeding knowledge of mothers in the area under study?
• What is the relationship between participants’ occupation, educational level, knowledge level and infant weaning practice?

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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: There is no significant relationship between participants’ occupation, educational level, knowledge level and infant weaning practice
• H1: There is significant relationship between participants’ occupation, educational level, knowledge level and infant weaning practice

Hypothesis Two

• H0: Ethnicity is not a major factor that influence infant weaning practice among women attending Infant Welfare Clinic in the area under study
• H1: Ethnicity is a major factor that influence infant weaning practice among women attending Infant Welfare Clinic in the area under study

Hypothesis Three

• H0: There is no significant pattern and factor influencing weaning practices among women attending Infant Welfare Clinic
• H1: There is significant pattern and factor influencing weaning practices among women attending Infant Welfare Clinic

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1.7 Significance of Study

The findings of this study will serve as a guide for Health workers in the counselling of mothers and caregivers on infant and young child feeding recommendations. The Policy Makers will find this research finding a useful tool in the formulation of guidelines on ensuring appropriate feeding of infants and young children.

The study will also serve as a guide in drawing menu for meal formulation in Day Care Centers. The research findings will also form a base line for further research on infant and young child nutrition.

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1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Weaning Practices among Post Partum Mothers Attending Infant Welfare Clinic in Warri Central Hospital, Delta State, Nigeria.

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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. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
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).

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1.10 Definition of Terms

Weaning: It is a process by which foods other than breast milk is introduced gradually into baby’s diet after the first six months of life to initially complement the breast milk and then to wean totally off breast milk (Shadia et al., 2013).