EFFECTS OF MOTHERS FEEDING HABITS ON THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF INFANTS (3-6 MONTHS) IN OWERRI WEST L.G.A, IMO STATE, NIGERIA

The study aimed at investigating the effect of mothers feeding habits of the nutritional status of infants (3-6 moths) in Owerri west L.G.A Imo State. It was found that mothers of infants tend to employ poor feeding practices or habits especially when the infants are not yet of age. Five specific objectives were formulated which guided the study. The study employed a simple random method of simple selection. The sample size of 200 subjects determined a validated questionnaire was used to collected data on Anthropometry. Socio economic status, dietary and nutritional assessment of the responded. Data was shown as frequency and percentage and was analyzed using the statistical package for social science (SPSS 2020) chi Square were used data collected revealed that 63.5% of this mothers were married women, 31% single, divorced 5%. The respondents who practiced complementary feeding for the infants were 49% while 44% practiced Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF). The socio economic status of the respondents showed that 71.5% were educated to O’ level standard. The Anthropometric indices of respondents with their respective BML showed that 27% of mothers had normal weight, 61% overweight and 12% obese. The BML also showed that there was a significant difference in the weight and height of respondents (P<0.05). Based on the findings, it is recommended that Nutritional programmes and Intervention should be practiced in most areas as it will help improving feeding habits of mothers.