ABSTRACT

Despite ample evidence of the benefits of exclusive and continued breastfeeding for children, women and society, far too few children are breastfed as recommended. This represents a threat to the preservation of the high breastfeeding rate in Nigeria and will hamper any improvement in exclusive breastfeeding rates. This study examined the use of breast milk substitutes by lactating mothers in selected rural areas in Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State. It was a cross-sectional study and. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a total of 350 respondents. Data on socio-demographic/economic characteristics, attitude, utilization of breast milk substitutes and anthropometric status of the infants were collected using structured and validated questionnaire. The IBM SPSS version 21.0 was used to analyse the data. Significant relationship was judged at p ≤ 0.05. Data obtained were described using frequency, percentage and mean. Pearson’s correlation was be used to determine the relationship between the influence of the mother’s socio demographic and economic characteristics and their knowledge and attitude towards infant feeding on their use of breast milk substitutes. Results from the study showed that in the study majority (21%) of the respondents were literates with a few (25%) being illiterate. Most (79.7%) of them were aware of breast milk substitute with a few (20.3%) not aware. Their major source of awareness was from the hospital (health professionals). On the exposure to breast milk substitutes (BMS), different suggestions were made to promote the use of BMS; some of the mothers were given leaflets, take home samples of the infant formula from the hospital and suggestions on how to prepare the infant formulas. Majority (63.4%) received breast milk in addition with infant formula during the first six months of life. The results of this study has shown that most lactating mothers in the study area prefer the use of infant formula because they think it is the best option when a mother wants to go back to work. It is therefore recommended that health professionals should be trained on how to encourage exclusive breast feeding among lactating mothers because they are their source of information during antenatal and after delivery.  Actions should be taken to decrease the impact of misleading advertisement, which influences mothers to switch from traditional breast feeding to BMS.