RESUMO
The weaning practices in infants aged 4-9 months of two hundred Idoma women resident in Makurdi were examined. A pre-tested standard questionnaire was used to collect data from mothers who regularly visited the post-natal health clinics in Makurdi. The results showed that better educated mothers breast fed for a shorter time or planned to cease breast feeding after a shorter period than mothers who had little education or no formal training. Most mothers (97%) fed milk formula which they claimed was used to supplement breast milk and was good for their babies. The most influential factors were the hospital and the husband. The majority of the mothers fed pap; 73% using corn in its preparation, with 91% of them storing such paps in flask. More than half of the mothers used a bottle in feeding the paper or gruel to their infants while a similar proportion (65.5%) fed legumes to their infants in addition to fruits. The implications of these practices in comparison with other ethnic groups is discussed.
PIP: During May-September 1993, in Benue State, Nigeria, interviews were conducted with 200 healthy Idoma mothers aged 16-43 years attending the postnatal health clinic in the Kwararafa area of Makurdi--largely a Tiv tribe settlement--so researchers could learn about infant weaning practices of Idoma women. 67% of the mothers had no more than primary education, while about 60% of the husbands had at least secondary education. Most mothers breast fed on demand 6-8 times a day for 5-15 minutes. 90% planned to cease breast feeding at 12 months. The less educated mothers, who were either self-employed or unemployed, planned to cease breast feeding later than the more educated mothers who were in salaried employment. 97% gave their infant milk formula. Education was associated with milk formula use (93% of mothers with no formal education, 97% of mothers with primary education, and 100% of mothers with secondary or higher education). The major reasons for using milk formula were supplementation of breast milk (43%) and claiming it is good for infants (36.5%). The leading milk formula brands were Nan (46.3%), Cerelac (30%), and SMA (10.5%). The factors that most influenced introduction of milk formula included hospital advice (46.5%) and husband's advice (33%). 52.5% introduced supplementary feeding at 3-4 months. 88.5% of all mothers gave supplementary food alongside breast milk. The most important factors influencing type of supplementary food were suitability for infant (35.5%), high quality (21.5%), and price (19.5%). The leading type of weaning foods were pap (50.5%), Cerelac (26.5%), and pap mixed with other food (11%). 82% of mothers fed gruel to their infant with a feeding bottle. 65.5% also fed legumes, vegetables, and/or fruits to their infant. The decision to feed these foods to their infant were based on hospital advice (36%), availability in the family menu (24%), and easy availability (18.5%). Based on these findings, health workers should use nutrition education, advice, and demonstration to teach appropriate and timely introduction of supplementary foods, methods of food preparation, and use of local fruits and vegetables.
