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  • Title: Infant weaning practices of some Tiv women resident in Makurdi, Nigeria.
    Author: Igbedioh SO, Ogbeni AO, Adole GM.
    Journal: Nutr Health; 1996; 11(1):13-28. PubMed ID: 8817581.
    Abstract:
    The weaning practices in infants aged 4 to 9 months of two hundred Tiv mothers in Makurdi, Nigeria were examined. The data was collected using a questionnaire from these randomly selected women from a known population and who regularly visited the public post-natal clinic in Makurdi. The study showed that all the mothers breast-fed their infants and most introduced supplementary feed at 3 to 4 months. Most also fed the traditional pap or "akamu' usually prepared by adding boiling water to fermented maize-sorghum paste. However, only a few of these (34%) enriched such paps. Price was a major determinant influencing the choice of feed fed to the infants. Only a few of the mothers (19%) used commercial milk formula, about a quarter fed legumes (24.5%) and fruits and vegetables (30%). The study showed that the mother's educational level and occupation influenced both time and duration of breast feeding and introduction of milk formula. Three-quarter of the mothers used bottle feeding while a quarter used spoon and cup and the feeds were improperly stored. The significance of these findings is discussed. During May-August 1993 in Benue State in Nigeria, 200 mothers who had 4-9 month old infants and attended the public postnatal clinic in Makurdi were interviewed about their infant weaning practices. The mothers and infants were of the Tiv ethnic group, the largest group in Benue State and the fourth largest in Nigeria. All the mothers breast fed their infants in some form. 98.5% breast fed on demand. All mothers but 1 planned to stop breast feeding before their infants reached 19 months old. Most (179) women who intended to stop breast feeding at 18 months were self-employed or unemployed. Most (162) women who planned to stop breast feeding at 18 months had no more than a primary education. 19% also fed their infants breast milk substitutes. All mothers who gave their infants breast milk substitutes used a bottle. All mothers gave their infants supplementary food in addition to breast milk. 73.5% began supplementary feeding when the infants reached 3-4 months. The leading weaning food was pap (boiling water added to fermented maize-sorghum paste) with or without milk and sugar (72%). 34% of all mothers supplemented their pap with milk, sugar, sweet potato, soybean milk, groundnut, or glucose. 24.5% of mothers gave legumes to their infants. 30% gave fruits and vegetables to their infants. Price was the leading factor determining the type of supplementary food to offer their infants. The price of 1 can of infant formula ranged from US $4.50 to $7 in November 1993. Based on these findings, public health agencies need to promote exclusive breast feeding up to 4 months, continued breast feeding for at least 18 months with introduction of locally available, nutritious gruels, and then use of fruits, vegetables, and legumes as supplementary foods.
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