Infant feeding practices and Prevalence of Iron Deficiency Anemia Among Children of 0-5 Years in Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried to assess the prevalence and death resulting from iron deficiency anemia among children of 0-5 years in Ondo State, Nigeria. This study further examined the contribution of infant feeding practices and dietary intakes of mothers to the prevalence and mortality from iron deficiency anemia. Four State Specialist Hospitals in the State were used for the study. Data of children mortality and prevalence of iron deficiency anemia from 2005 to 2009 were obtained from the hospital's records. About one hundred and forty (140) well structured questionnaires were administered to mother-child pairs to obtain information on food intakes and feeding practices. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques and T-test. Results revealed the highest prevalence of anemia throughout the State. Amongst the hospitals, the highest prevalence of iron deficiency anemia was in Ondo Town with 27% (463) children suffered from anemia in 2008. Mortality status from anemia was highest throughout the State in 2005 with 29% of mortality recorded while State Specialist Hospital, Ondo recorded the highest number of children death in 2009 with 30% (44) death records. The study equally showed that 54.3% of mothers adopted the use of blood supplements, 30% used iron-rich foods and 15% used local herbs to prevent anemia. 17% of mothers disliked egg during pregnancy, 20% meat/fish while 6.4% dislike milk. Only a few mothers 16.4% always fed their children with liver, 19.3% always gave egg while 53.6% gave milk as complementary foods. Meat/fish intakes of children and child's mortality from anemia in 2006, 2007 and 2008 were negatively significant at P=0.05 level. The Author, therefore, concluded that the prevalence and deaths resulting from iron deficiency anemia in Ondo State is still high. Prevalence and mortality resulting from iron deficiency anemia in children can be prevented not only by encouraging mothers to eat iron-rich foods of animal origin right from the time of pregnancy but by also educating them to always feed their babies with age-appropriate complementary foods rich in nutrients that could furnish their body system with the required iron.