Year: 2024 | Month: October | Volume: 14 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 438-443
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20241048
The Effect of Exclusive Breast-Feeding Practices on Morbidity among Under-five Children in a Semi–Urban Community in Sokoto, North-Western Nigeria
Baba Jibrin1, Yusuf Tahir.1
1Department of Paediatrics Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, PMB 2370, Sokoto
Corresponding Author: Dr. Baba Jibrin
ABSTRACT
Background: Breast feeding is an important component of child survival strategy. It protects against infections especially diarrhoeal and respiratory diseases. Objectives: To determine the rate of exclusive breast feeding and its effect on under-5 morbidity in Gwiwa community.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study carried out at PHC Gwiwa, in Gwiwa community, Wammakko LGA, Sokoto state, Nigeria between May and August 2021. One hundred and eighty-six Mothers with children aged 6 – 59months were interviewed using structured interviewer questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23.0.
Results: Seventy-three (39.2%) of the respondents were aged 15 – 24 years and majority (54.3%) are of low socio-economic class. Thirty-three (17.7%) of the children were exclusively breast fed for 6 months. There was significant difference in the rate of exclusive breast feeding among different socio-economic classes. One (3.0%) and 16 (10.5%) hospitalization were recorded among exclusively and non-exclusively breast-fed children respectively (p= 0.4). Seven (21.2%) and 8 (24.2%) of the exclusively breastfed children had diarrhoea and ARI respectively as compared to 113 (73.9%) and 118 (77.1%) with diarrhoea (p= 0.03) and ARI (p= 0.04) respectively among non-exclusively breastfed children.
Conclusion: The incidence rate of exclusive breast feeding is low in our community and might have impacted negatively on under-5 morbidity in the community. Efforts should be geared towards improving exclusive breast-feeding campaign in our community.
Key words: Exclusive, Breastfeeding, Childhood, Morbidity