ABSTRACT

 This study was conducted to assess the infant feeding practices of mothers and anthropometric status of their infants in Ebonyi State Rural Area (Afikpo South Local Government Area). A structured questionnaire was administered to the mothers where types of infant feeding they practiced and the anthropometric status (weight-for-height, height-for-age, weight-for-age, BMI-for-age, mid upper arm circumference) of their infants were obtained. The questionnaire was distributed to a total of 311 mothers. The mean and standard deviation were obtained, frequency and percentage were calculated using computer software, statistical product service solution (SPSS) version 21. The result showed that Majority (72%) of the mothers were between the ages of 18-35 years, 20.6% were less than 18 years, while 7.4% were between 38-55 years. Majority (94.9%) of the mothers were married, 3.5% were single, while very few (1.6%) were separated. Furthermore 33.8% of the mothers had no formal education, 33.1% were primary school holders, and 28.6% were secondary school graduates, while very few 4.5% were graduates of a tertiary institution. Majority of the mothers started with a good infant feeding practice, this could be traced to 88.7% who gave breast milk as the first food to their infants and 96.8% who gave colostrum to their infants. Despite the fact that they started with a good practice of infant feeding practices, it was not continued as only 15.4 practiced exclusive breastfeeding and majority of the mothers (84.6%) did not practice exclusive breastfeeding for six months, very few (7.4%) did initiate semi-solid food at the right age and 75.6% did not know the right age to introduce family foods. Thus the effect of the negative practice could be traced to, 79.7% of the infants that were severely stunted, 51.8% who were wasted and 75.2% who were moderately malnourished. Mothers should be sensitized on the importance of good infant and young child feeding practices in order to improve the IYCF knowledge. Emphasis should be made on promotion of exclusive breastfeeding and good infant feeding practices through nutrition education, prints, mass media, good education, television, books, radio or magazine and short drama/food demonstration during ante-natal visit.