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  • Title: Influence of mother's occupation and education on breast-feeding and weaning in infants and children in Makurdi, Nigeria.
    Author: Igbedioh SO.
    Journal: Nutr Health; 1994; 9(4):289-302. PubMed ID: 8065667.
    Abstract:
    The influence of Mother's Occupation and education on breastfeeding and weaning in infants and children in Makurdi was investigated. A pre-tested and validated standard questionnaire was used to collect data from 100 healthy randomly-selected mothers who regularly visited the post-natal health clinics in Makurdi. The result showed that occupation and education influenced the frequency and duration of breastfeeding, in addition to the nutritional quality and the type of weaning food fed. Questionnaires were distributed in May and August of 1990 to 100 mothers attending two state government health clinics in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria, which has a population of 350,000. Women in the study were aged 15-44 years and had children aged 6-31 months. About 55% of study participants were from Benue State which is comprised of Tiv, Idoma, and Igalla ethnic groups. 59% did not have more than a primary education. 12% had paid employment. Most lived in cement plastered houses with corrugated roofs, piped water, and electricity. 92% breast fed on demand; 80% had breast feedings at least six times a day, and 82% of infants had eight or more feedings with breast milk. Most mothers were self-employed or unemployed. Most, who were self-employed or unemployed, desired to stop breast feeding at 18-20 months and had feedings of over 15 minutes per episode. Salaried employees tended to wean at 3-4 months. Women with the lowest education or no education had the longest breast feeding times per episode of 42% nursing for 10-30 minutes compared to only 25% among the better educated. Less educated women also introduced supplemental foods later: 5-9 months compared to 3-5 months among the better educated. Early weaning at 1 week to 4 months was predominant among women with a college education (90%) or secondary education (95%). Most fed their infants "akamu," a gruel made from fermented grains. Only 18%, of which many were college educated, introduced legumes as a first food. Many who did not feed their infants fruits or vegetables had no education or under a secondary school education. The use of milk formula appeared to be related to cost and higher educational level.
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