Infant feeding practices, socio-economic conditions and diarrhoeal disease in a traditional area of urban Ilorin, Nigeria
Oni, G.A.
East African Medical Journal 73(5): 283-288
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-835X PMID: 8756027 Document Number: 306310
A cross-sectional study of all 771 infants younger than 1 year of age in households in an impoverished ward in Ilorin, Nigeria, investigated the interrelationships among infant feeding practices, socioeconomic conditions, and diarrheal disease during the 1988 dry season. Although almost all infants were being breast-fed, 83.1% of 0-3 month olds were also receiving bottle feeds and 73% of 10-12 month olds were receiving solid foods. Logistic regression analysis identified 5 variables that were significantly associated with diarrheal disease: child's age (p 0.01), parity (p 0.05), mother's education (p 0.05), household availability of a kitchen (p 0.01), and the feeding of semi-solid foods (p 0.05). The highest prevalence of diarrhea was found among infants 7-9 months of age and the lowest among those 0-3 months (odds ratio (OR), 4.2). Children of the fifth or higher birth orders had a higher risk of diarrhea than first- and second-born children (OR, 1.62). Infants of mothers with a secondary education had a significantly greater diarrhea prevalence than those of illiterate mothers (OR, 1.9). In households with a kitchen, the diarrhea prevalence was lower than in those without such a facility (OR, 0.6). Finally, diarrhea prevalence was significantly lower among children yet to receive semi-solid foods than in those already eating such foods (OR, 0.5). These findings indicate a need for a diarrhea awareness campaign to educate mothers on the need for proper hygiene.