ABSTRACT

Breast-milk substitutes are infant formulas used to feed infant when breast milk is not available. This study assessed the factors that influenced the use of breast milk substitutes among the lactating mothers in Urban area of Enugu state. This study is a cross sectional survey. A well-structured and validated questionnaire was used to collect information on the socio-demographic characteristics, socio-economic, awareness and utilization of breast milk substitutes by the lactating mothers and their husband. Statistical Package Software Service (SPSS) version, 23 was used to analyze the data collected. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. The result revealed that majority of the lactating mothers were given maternity leave for their delivery and more than quarter (29.3%) of the respondents were given 1month maternity leave. More than half (64.0%) of the lactating mothers had tertiary education and less than half (42.0%) earned between ₦18,500-₦49,000 monthly. Seventy three percent (73%) of the husband to the lactating mothers had tertiary education and quarter (25.7%) of them earned between ₦18,500-₦49,000 monthly, respectively. Majority (92.0%) of the lactating mother were aware of breast milk substitutes and 22.0% heard it from their husband and family members. Some (33.3%) of the lactating mothers made a personal decision on the use of breast milk substitutes, and few (1.7%) of the lactating mothers introduced breast milk substitutes to their baby after 6 months. More than half (66.3%) of the mothers were advised by doctors, nurses/midwives to feed their baby with infant formula. Few (8.0%) of the lactating mothers had good attitude towards feeding their baby with breast milk alone for the first six months after birth. Less than half (41.3%) of the infants assessed in this study were thin and skinny and 15.7% of the children had diarrhea since birth. However, the result of this study showed that majority of the mothers preferred feeding their infants with breast milk substitutes which affect the nutritional status of their respective children.