FACTORS INFLUENCING THE PRACTICE OF EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING IN NUKKAI, JALINGO TARABA STATE

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE PRACTICE OF EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING IN NUKKAI, JALINGO TARABA STATE

Background Of The Study

Breastfeeding is the process of feeding an infant mother's milk by direct nipple-to-mouth contact or through expressed breast milk. Colostrum, which is the first yellowish and sticky milk produced from the mother's breasts from 37 weeks of pregnancy to approximately seven days after delivery, and mature milk, which is white in color and produced efficiently from around the tenth day following delivery, are the two forms of breast milk (Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, 2015). Clinicians may be aware of the significance of breast feeding for infant health in underdeveloped countries, but they may be uninformed of the possible long-term health advantages for mothers and babies in developed countries, especially in relation to obesity, blood pressure, cholesterol, and cancer, according to Bartick and Reinhold (2020). The World Health Organization (WHO) advises six months of exclusive breast feeding (breast milk alone; no water, other fluids, or food) followed by two years of complementary breast feeding. This concept has been embraced by the governments of Nigeria, the United Kingdom, etc., but it also offers a serious problem for nations such as Nigeria and the United States, where breast feeding rates have been low for decades and may be very hard to change (Bartick, et al 2020).

Adequate nutrition throughout infancy and early childhood is essential for good growth, health, and development in children. The greatest source of nutrition for an infant is breast milk, and it has been established universally that nursing is healthful for both mother and child. The health and well-being of newborn infants are dependent on breast milk. Infants who are breastfed develop quicker, suffer less illness, and die at a lower rate than those who are not (John, 2018).

The National Infant and Young Child Feeding (NIYCF) operational strategy builds upon previous and ongoing accomplishments to promote healthy infant and young child feeding. These include exclusive breastfeeding for six months and continued breastfeeding for two years with introduction of appropriate and timely complementary feeding, implementation and monitoring of the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes, and maternity protection for working women. In the preceding decade, the government has developed programmes targeted at enhancing the well-being of infants and young children.

In addition, breastfeeding is a natural mode of infant feeding that consists of two basic methods: exclusive and partial, with the latter being the more common. However, exclusivity is the most suitable and absolute design with the largest domino impact. However, effective mental, emotional, and physical collaboration between the mother and her newborn is necessary for the intended result (Narzary, 2019).

Breastfeeding promotes uterine involution and, thus, the rapid recovery of uterine tone in the mother. It strengthens the bond between mother and child. It is inexpensive, which is crucial in the Third World, and practical. Due to the prolactin-raising effect of nipple stimulation, breastfeeding delays the recovery of normal ovarian function and so increases the duration between births (Otoide, Oronsaye,& Okonofua, 2020).

This latter effect also helps the infant by decreasing the likelihood that a subsequent pregnancy may displace the infant from the breast. In many developing countries, weaning meals are poorly insufficient, and children who are weaned too early are at danger of developing protein-calorie shortages, such as kwashiorkor and marasmus, which may lead to general debility, stunted growth, wasting, and even death. Children who are breastfed have a greater chance of survival than those who are not in places with little or no medical resources (Otoide, et al 2020). From the aforementioned this study seek to examine the factors influencing the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in Nukkai, Jalingo Taraba State.

BUY THIS TOPIC ON WHATSAPP

Related Project Materials

ABSTRACT

In the past 3 decades (1981-2017), the Nigerian government has set out various policies targeted at stimulating the macroeconomi...

 ABSTRACT

The work environment which encompasses several factors impacts on the w...

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out the evaluation of road traffic accident effect on properties and economy of Nige...