ABSTRACT

 This study assessed the complementary feeding practices among rural mothers of children aged 6 months to 2 years in Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a total of 150 lactating mothers. Data on socio demographic/economic characteristics of mothers/caregivers, complementary feeding practices, knowledge and attitude towards complementary feeding and the anthropometric status of children were collected using standard procedures.The IBM SPSS version 22.0 computer programme was used to analyze the data. WHO anthro was used to determine the anthropometric status of the children. Data obtained were described using frequencies and percentages. Chi square was used to assess the relationship between complementary feeding practices and anthropometric status of children. A pvalue of SO.05 was considered significant. Result showed that more than half (53.3%) of the mothers were between 26-35 years and majority (86.0%) were married. Majority (93.3%) of them initiated breast feeding to children within one hour of birth and the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was 20.0%. Although some (42.0%) of the respondents were still breastfeeding, all (100.0%) of them had introduced complementary foods to their children and most (66.0%) of them initiated at 6 months. Other foods given to the children include infant milk (14.0%), mashed family foods (24.0%) and pap with other ingredients (30.0%). Majority (78.0%) ofthe children however ate 3-4 meals a day and most (71.3%) of them used both homemade and commercial complementary foods. The most frequently used commercial foods were custard (40.0%), cerelac (12.0%) while the homemade foods frequently used by the mothers were mashed yam (53.3%), mashed rice (34.7%), pap from maize (66.0%), soup and eba/fufu/semo (83.3%) and mashed beans (64.0%). Some (46.0%) of the mothers had good knowledge and more than half (66.0) ofthe respondents had positive attitudes towards complementary feeding. The prevalence of wasting, overweight, stunting and underweight among the children were 36.0%, 6.7%, 10.7% and 42.0% respectively. There was a significant relationship between age of introduction of complementary foods, other foods given to child, consistency of complementary foods, type of complementary foods introduced to child, the weight for height and weight for age of the children and height for age of the children (p<0.05). Nutrition education on complementary feeding practices should be organized locally to ensure that the mothers and care givers receive adequate information needed on how to prepare adequate complementary foods.