Determinants of Prospective Infant Feeding Choice Among Intending Couples In Umuahia North, L.G.A. Abia State.:- Okafor, Ugochi A.

ABSTRACT

The study was designed to assess the determinant of prospective infant feeding choice among intending couples in Umuahia North Local Government Area, Abia State. A total of 115 intending couples were randomly selected from ten (10) different churches in Umuahia Northe Local Government Area of Abia State. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit their socio-economic, prospective infant feeding choices and anthropometric characteristics. Few ofthe respondents (male and female partner) were between the age of 20-25yers with percentages of 40.9% and 52.2% respectively. The educational status revealed that more than half(58.3%) ofthe male partners had tertiary education while majority (77.4%) of the female pailners had tertiary education, A good number of the respondents were self-employed; male partner (24.3%) and female partner (27.8%). Monthly income for some (29.6%) ofthe male partners was #50,000 and above while 33% of tlie female partners received a monthly income of #30,000-#49?000. It was observed that more than half (53%) of the male partners and 63.5% ofthe female partners resided inside the town. Results on childhood characteristic showed that most oftlie male partners (55.7%) and female partner (65.2%) were catered for by their mothers during the first two years. Some (44.3%) of the respondents were infonned that they were exclusively breastfed in the first 6 months of life. It was observed from the result that 13% of the respondent had a poor knowledge of infant feeding. 26.1% had an average faiowledge while majority (60.9%) of the respondents had a good knowledge of infant feeding. Majority (80.9%) of the respondents had a positive attitude towards infant feeding. The anthropometric status result showed that most of the respondents were normal (male= 57.4; female= 59.1 ) while few were overweight (male= 36.5 ; female= 26.1 ). The result also showed the waist-hip ratio of the respondents. 44.8% of the female respondents had a normal waist-hip ratio while 45.2% of the female partner respondents were at risk. However, no significant association (p>0.05) exist