Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Maternal Socio-Demographic Factors Influencing the Initiation and Exclusivity of Breastfeeding in a Nigerian Semi-Urban Setting

  • Published:
Maternal and Child Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background The success of breastfeeding promotion is influenced by maternal factors. Therefore, it is vital to examine the influence of basic maternal demographic factors on breastfeeding practices. Objective To determine the influence of maternal socio-demographic factors on the initiation and exclusivity of breastfeeding. Method A cross-sectional survey of mothers of children aged from 1 to 24 months attending a Nigerian Infant Welfare Clinic was conducted. Respondents were grouped according to age, parity, education, occupation, sites of antenatal care and delivery. These groups were compared for breastfeeding indices using bivariate and multivariate analysis. Results All the 262 respondents breastfed their children. The exclusive breastfeeding rate was 33.3% for children aged 0–3 months, 22.2% for children aged 4–6 months and 19.4% for children aged 7–24 months at the time of the study. Significantly higher proportions of mothers with at least secondary education, clinic-based antenatal care and delivery in health facilities initiated breastfeeding within 1 h of birth, avoided pre-lacteal feeding and practiced exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life. Maternal age and parity did not confer any advantage on breastfeeding practices. Delivery of children outside health facilities strongly contributed to delayed initiation of breastfeeding (P < 0.001), pre-lacteal feeding (P = 0.003) and failure to breastfeed exclusively (P = 0.049). Maternal education below secondary level strongly contributed to pre-lacteal feeding (P = 0.004) and failure to practice exclusive breastfeeding (P = 0.008). Conclusion Low maternal education and non-utilization of orthodox obstetric facilities impairs early initiation and exclusivity of breastfeeding.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Agampodi, S. B., Agampodi, T. C., & Piyaseeh, U. K. (2007). Breastfeeding practices in a public health field practice area in Sri Lanka: A survival analysis. International Breastfeeding Journal, 2, 13. doi:10.1186/1746-4358-2-13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Aghaji, M. N. (2002). Exclusive breastfeeding practices and associated factors in Enugu, Nigeria. West African Journal of Medicine, 21, 66–69.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Aidam, B. A., Perez-Escamilla, R., Lartey, A., & Aidam, J. (2005). Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding in Accra, Ghana. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 59, 789–796. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602144.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Alam, M. U., Rahman, M., & Rahman, F. (2002). Effectiveness of Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative on the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding among the Dhakar city dwellers in Bangladesh. Mymensingh Medical Journal, 11, 94–99.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. American Academy of Pediatrics. (2005). Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics, 115, 496–506. doi:10.1542/peds.2004-2491.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Bertini, G., Perugi, S., Dani, C., Pezzati, M., Tronchin, M., & Rubaltelli, F. F. (2003). Maternal education and the incidence and duration of breastfeeding: A prospective study. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 37, 447–452. doi:10.1097/00005176-200310000-00009.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Broadfoot, M., Britten, J., Tappin, D. M., & Mackenzie, J. M. (2005). The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and breastfeeding rates in Scotland. Archives of Disease in Childhood. Fetal and Neonatal Edition, 90, F114–F116. doi:10.1136/adc.2003.041558.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Butler, S., Williams, M., Tukuitanga, C., & Paterson, J. (2004). Factors associated with not breastfeeding exclusively among mothers of a cohort of Pacific infants in New Zealand. The New Zealand Medical Journal, 117, U908.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Cham, S. K., & Asirvatham, C. V. (2001). Feeding practices of infants delivered in a district hospital during the implementation of Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 56, 71–76.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Davies-Adetugbo, A. A. (1997). Sociocultural factors and the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding in rural Yoruba communities of Osun State, Nigeria. Social Science and Medicine, 45, 113–125. doi:10.1016/S0277-9536(96)00320-6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Dubois, L., & Girard, M. (2003). Social determinants of initiation, duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding at the population level; the results of the longitudinal study of child development in Quebec (ELDEQ 1998–2002). Canadian Journal of Public Health, 94, 300–305.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Duong, D. V., Binns, C. W., & Lee, A. H. (2004). Breastfeeding initiation and exclusive breastfeeding in rural Vietnam. Public Health Nutrition, 7, 795–799. doi:10.1079/PHN2004609.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Lawoyin, T. O., Olawuyi, J. F., & Onadeko, M. O. (2001). Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding in Ibadan, Nigeria. Journal of Human Lactation, 17, 321–325. doi:10.1177/089033440101700406.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Leger-Leblanc, G., & Rioux, F. M. (2008). Effect of a prenatal nutritional intervention program on initiation and duration of breastfeeding. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research, 69, 101–105. doi:10.3148/69.2.2008.101.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Merten, S., Dratva, J., & Ackermann-Lierbrich, U. (2005). Do Baby Friendly Hospitals influence breastfeeding duration on a national level? Pediatrics, 116, e702–e708. doi:10.1542/peds.2005-0537.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Oche, M. O., & Umar, A. S. (2008). Breastfeeding of mothers in a rural community of Sokoto, Nigeria. The Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal, 15, 101–114.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Ogunlesi, T. A., Dedeke, I. O. F., Okeniyi, J. A. O., & Oyedeji, G. A. (2005). The Impact of Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative on breastfeeding practices in Ilesa. Nigerian Journal of Paediatrics, 32, 46–51.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Ogunlesi, T. A., Okeniyi, J. A. O., Oyedeji, G. A., & Oyedeji, O. A. (2005). The influence of maternal socioeconomic status on the management of malaria in their children: Implications for the Roll Back Malaria Initiative. Nigerian Journal of Paediatrics, 32, 40–46.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Ojofeitimi, E. O., Esimai, O. A., Owolabi, O. O., Oluwabusi, O., Olaobaju, O. F., & Olanuga, T. O. (2004). Breastfeeding practices in urban and rural health centres: Impact of Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative in Ile- Ife, Nigeria. Nutrition and Health (Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire), 14, 119–125.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Salami, L. I. (2008). Factors influencing breastfeeding practices in Edo State, Nigeria. Available at http://ajfand.net/issue-XI-files/pdfs/SALAMI_1680.pdf. Accessed on 10th January 8.

  21. Simard, I., O’Brien, H. T., Beaudoin, A., et al. (2005). Factors influencing the initiation and duration of breastfeeding among low-income women followed by the Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program in four regions of Quebec. Journal of Human Lactation, 21, 327–337. doi:10.1177/0890334405275831.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Sivet, V., CAstel, C., Boilean, P., Castetbon, K., & Foix L’helias, L. (2008). Factors associated to breastfeeding up to 6 months in the maternity of Antoine-Beclere Hospital, Clamart. Archives de Pediatrie, 15, 1167–1173. doi:10.1016/j.arcped.2008.04.014.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. WHO. (2001). Report of the expert consultation on the optimal duration of exclusive breastfeeding. Geneva, Switzerland. WHO/NHD/01.09.

  24. WHO. (2007). Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative: Revised, updated and expanded for Integrated Care 2006. Available at http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/BFHI_Revised_Section3.1.pdf. Accessed on 10th December 2007.

  25. WHO/UNICEF. (1989). Protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding-the special role of maternity services. A joint WHO/UNICEF Statement. WHO, Geneva.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics, Olabisi Onabanjo University, P.O. Box 652, Sagamu, 121001, Nigeria

    Tinuade A. Ogunlesi

Authors
  1. Tinuade A. Ogunlesi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tinuade A. Ogunlesi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ogunlesi, T.A. Maternal Socio-Demographic Factors Influencing the Initiation and Exclusivity of Breastfeeding in a Nigerian Semi-Urban Setting. Matern Child Health J 14, 459–465 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-008-0440-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-008-0440-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation