Problems associated with the introduction of complementary foods to breastfed infants in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Ibadan

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the challenges encountered during the introduction of complementary foods, whether these challenges are unique to exclusively breastfed infants, and the coping strategies employed by mothers.

Methods: A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 200 mothers attending selected primary health centers in Ibadan North Local Government. A pretested semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was distributed to the mothers, and three focus group discussion sessions were conducted with 21 mothers to enhance, as well as clarify the quantitative results generated. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test at p=0.05, while qualitative data was analysed thematically.

Results: Findings from this study revealed that one of the major challenges mothers experience during introduction of complementary foods is food refusal, as seen in 27.5% of respondents. Though infants who were exclusively breastfed refused foods for longer periods, there was no statistically significant difference in food refusal between exclusively breastfed and non-exclusively breastfed infants (X² = 6.893; P =0.075). Other challenges are time constraints and maintaining good hygiene. Mothers employed positive coping strategies like singing to engage the child’s attention and negative coping strategies like force-feeding to ensure the child eats.

Conclusion: Food refusal was reported in both exclusively and non-exclusively breastfed infants. However, exclusively breastfed infants refused food for longer periods.