ABSTRACT

This study was designed to identify complementary feeding practices and food used by mothers in Annang, Akwa lbom State,Nigeria. A structure validated and pretested questionnaire was designed to collect information on when, what and reasons of their complementary feeding practices. A sample size of 150 of mothers who were nursing children 3 months 2years was used. Common foods were analysed using the standard methods for protein, fat, fibre, ash moisture and dry matter. Carbohydrate was calculated by difference. Calcium, phosphorus, iron and sodium were determined; also thiamin, riboflavin and niacin were determined. Most mothers (75.7%) fed their children with breastmilk and complementary foods, at the range of 3-6 months of (63.4%). The first food given to their baby were cerelac (36.1%), pap (39.8%) and banana pottage (17.3%). The mothers reported that reason was that they liked giving their child the food (60.9%) and what they can afford (11.3%). While tradition was reason given by 9.8%of mothers. Complementary foods commonly used were pap (41.1%) cerelac (21.0%) banana pottage (20.2%) custard (4.0%) and boiled rice (2.4%). Custard had the highest (86.72%) in moisture content, boiled rice had highest (24.3 8%) dry matter, cerelac had highest (1.22%) ash content, Boiled rice had highest crude fibre (0.27%) Crude protein (3.54%) and fat (1.07%) were highest in cerelac. Boiled rice had the highest carbohydrate (20.38%). In the bar chart sonic (13.6%) of the male were severely, wasted while 14.3% of the female were also severely, wasted, normal in male were 34.8%, obese in male (33.3%) and female (35. 1%) in height-for-age (62.7%) of male were severely stunted while 56.8% of female were severely stunted. 20.9% of male were normal. In weight-For-age 44.8% and 34.2% were underweight. 34.3% .4 for male and 49.4% of female were normal. In pie chart, 13.9% severely wasted, 41% normal. Many 59.7% of infant were severely stunted 24.2% normal, 39.5% 1 were severely underweight and 42.2% were normal infants. Weight-for-height 41% of the infact were normal 35% obsessed while 59.7% were severely stunted.