Evaluation of Exclusive Breastfeeding Practices among Mothers of Children Aged 0 to 59 Months in the Rural Commune of Sinder, Tillabery, Niger
Djelifa Hamidou *
Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey, Niger and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Nutrition and Development of Agro-Resources, Niger.
Maman Moustapha Rabiou
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Dan Dicko Dankoulodo University of Maradi, Niger.
Chaibou Yaou
Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey, Niger.
Almou Abdoulaye Alio
Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey, Niger and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Nutrition and Development of Agro-Resources, Niger.
Dodo Hambali Zouleyha
Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey, Niger and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Nutrition and Development of Agro-Resources, Niger.
Garba Ballarabe Maimouna
Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey, Niger and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Nutrition and Development of Agro-Resources, Niger.
Alkassoum Salifou Ibrahim
Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences. Niger.
Haoua Sabo Seini
Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey, Niger and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Nutrition and Development of Agro-Resources, Niger.
Hassimi Sadou
Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey, Niger and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Nutrition and Development of Agro-Resources, Niger.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Feeding practices play a major role in the nutritional status of children (WHO/UNICEF, 2009). The objective of this study was to evaluate the practice of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers of children aged 0 to 59 months in the rural commune of Sinder. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study, which involved a representative and random sample of mothers of children aged 0 to 59 months. A questionnaire was completed through a structured interview. The data were collected with ODK software then analyzed with SPSS and Epi Info version 7.2 software. A total of 250 mother/child couples were enrolled. About 58% of newborns receive breast milk as their first food and 42% received pre-lacteal fluids. The majority of children are put to the breast early, including 55.2% immediately after birth and 34.4% within the next 24 hours, but 10.4% wait more than 24 hours. 66.4% of mothers say they have been made aware of EBF practices by health workers and 33.6% by those close to the mother. Around 37% of mothers say they do not believe in the nutritional and health benefits of EBF. Only 44% of infants receive EBF up to 6 months. The average duration of EBF is 4.4± 2.77 months. Among children receiving other foods in addition to breast milk before their sixth month, 56% receive water, 32.8% receive a herbal decoction, 45.6% take family meals, 50.4% drink the porridge. The practice of EBF in the rural commune of Sinder is suboptimal.
Keywords: Colostrum, exclusive breastfeeding, Infants, nutrition, rural commune, Sinder