An Assessment of Nutritional Knowledge and Feeding Practices of Breastfeeding Mothers on Young Children Feeding in Dadease and Effiduase Municipalities

Abstract

This study aimed at examining infant and young child feeding practices of mothers and their effect on the nutritional status of their children at Dadease and Effiduase in the Sekyere-Kumawu and Sekyere-East Districts, respectively. A cross-sectional design was used for the study, with a sample size of 122 mothers and their young children within the age range of 0–24 months. Multistage sampling was employed. The relationship between mothers’ nutritional knowledge and feeding practices adopted for their infants and young children was examined using Spearman’s correlation at a 0.01 significant level. The result showed a weak negative insignificant (r = -.141, p > 0.01) relationship. Similarly, mothers’ educational level and their age did not influence their choice of infant feeding practices (p > 0.05). Rather, factors such as work situation, culture, post-natal clinic services, family and friends influenced the mother’s choice of infant and young child feeding practices (p < 0.05). About 37% of mothers confirmed that they introduced other foods to their infants below 4 months; however, 95% of mothers were noted for introducing supplementary foods to infants below the 6^th month. This finding indicated that the feeding practices adopted by most mothers were not in line with WHO recommendations for infant feeding, hence the high prevalence of severe underweight in Effiduase (72%) and Dadease (78%). The study recommended the need for promotion for the best infant and young child feeding practices in the Sekyere-Kumawu and Sekyere-East districts through effective health e     ducation and counselling routines as well as a young children’s dieting guide to be enforced at Dadease and Effiduase to foster optimal childhood feeding practices among mothers.