ABSTRACT
Objective:To determine the breastfeeding pattern and its relationship with the physical growth and health status of infants aged 0-24 weeks.Design and setting: A prospective cohort study was carried out at three comprehensive health centres of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital; Anambra State (Nigeria) from September 2006 to June 2007. The feeding pattern; body weight; length and morbidity of 228 infants were assessed at birth; 6; 10; 14; 20 and 24 weeks when they visited the child welfare clinics for routine immunisations or on appointment.The infants were recruited from the immunisation registers by a systematic random sampling method. Based on their current feeding pattern during the period under study; infants were classified into exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and non-exclusive breastfeeding (non-EBF) groups. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS and Epi Info statistical computer software. A probability value (p-value) of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The EBF rate declined progressively from 64.9at birth to 37.3at 24 weeks of age. Maternal older age; multiparity and delivery at a government health facility were positively associated with higher rates of EBF (p 0.05). Only 110 (48.2) babies were put to the breast immediately (? 1 hour) after delivery. The numbers that received colostrum and prelacteal feed were 118 (82.5) and 59 (25.9); respectively. On-demand breastfeeding was more popular than timed feeding (95.5vs 7.5; p 0.05).At 24 weeks of age EBF males and females achieved a better and more rapid growth in weight and length compared to those in the non-EBF group (p