Influence of Food-Insecurity on Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding Practices Among Nursing Mothers Attending State Specialist Hospitals, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
| dc.contributor.author | Ijarotimi, Oluwole Steve | |
| dc.contributor.author | Olaiyapo, Kolawole Paul | |
| dc.contributor.author | Oludahunsi, Ayotomiwa Faith | |
| dc.contributor.author | Akinrinmade, Remilekun | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-11-12T07:57:02Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-11-12T07:57:02Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-10-20 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Background: Poor access to healthy foods as a result of poverty is becoming a public health challenge, particularly in many low-income countries, where many households are threatened with low purchasing power. Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of maternal food insecurity on infant-feeding practices among caregivers attending State Specialist Hospital, Akure, Nigeria. Method: The research was a cross-sectional study to assess maternal socio demographic characteristics, nutrition knowledge, and the influence of food insecurity status on breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic characteristics of mothers, breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices, and food-insecurity-related situations in the previous 30 days of the survey. Data were analyzed using a statistical package. Results: The maternal age was between 18 and 40 years, and a large percentage of the nursing mothers were Yoruba (75.1%). Most of the mothers had formal education (98.1%) and were self-employed (79.1%). Maternal-child-feeding knowledge showed that four-fifths (80%) had good knowledge on when to initiate breastfeeding, 68.9% on the duration of exclusive breastfeeding, 66.6% on the age at which to introduce complementary foods to infants, and 71.4% on the risks associated with late introduction of complementary food to the infants. Mothers experiencing mild food insecurity (20.2%), moderate food insecurity (15.2%), and severe food insecurity (8.9%) reported that they were not practicing exclusive breastfeeding, breastfeeding less than 3 times daily, and abruptly stopping breastfeeding, respectively. Besides, results showed that a high percentage of mothers were unable to feed their infants with a variety of complementary foods and quantity. The types of complementary foods used by the mothers varied from unfortified sorghum (36%), fortified sorghum (egg or soybean) (45%), and commercial infant formula (19%). Conclusion: The findings of the study showed that almost half of the nursing mothers were food insecure, and the food-insecure mothers did not practice exclusive breastfeeding, and most of the mothers were using unfortified cereals as complementary foods for their infants due to low income and lack of food. | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 2393-8536 | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 2393-8544 | |
| dc.identifier.other | https://doi.org/10.15415/jmrh.2024.111002 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://demodspace.chitkara.edu.in/handle/123456789/11 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Chitkara University Publications | |
| dc.subject | Maternal-Food-Insecurity | |
| dc.subject | Child feeding practices | |
| dc.subject | Type of complementary foods | |
| dc.subject | Unfortified cereals | |
| dc.title | Influence of Food-Insecurity on Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding Practices Among Nursing Mothers Attending State Specialist Hospitals, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria | |
| dc.type | Article |