Infant weaning knowledge and practice among mothers attending infant welfare clinic in three primary healthcare centres in Ikenne local government area, Ogun state, Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract Objective: Infant weaning is the introduction of supplementary diets to a child’s food after the first six months of life. Early introduction of supplementary diet and incorrect weaning practices are commonly found in communities around the world. Poor breastfeeding and weaning practices are the prime causes of malnutrition in the first two years of life and information gap exists in relation to how and when weaning takes place. The study explored infant weaning knowledge and practice among mothers attending infant welfare clinic in three primary healthcare centres in Ikenne Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria. Method: This study adopted a descriptive method. Researchers included 100 mothers attending infant welfare clinic using simple random sampling. Participants completed a developed questionnaire to assess their knowledge and practice regarding infant weaning. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics at 0.05 level of significance. Results: Result showed that majority 50(50%) of participants had moderate knowledge regarding infant weaning while majority 66(66%) had low practice concerning infant weaning. Finding showed a statistically significant relationship between occupation and weaning practices among mothers (P=0.000)；finding showed statistically significant relationship between educational level and weaning practices among mothers (P=0.000)； finding showed no statistically significant relationship between ethnicity and weaning practices among mothers (P=0.723)； finding showed a statistically significant relationship between mothers knowledge level and weaning practices (P=0.001). Conclusion: Infant weaning knowledge and practice among mothers attending infant welfare clinic is moderate. The study recommended that nurses should regularly train mothers on infant weaning to improve their knowledge and practice concerning infant weaning.