To Assess the Age of Giving Complementary Feeding to Infants before Six Months and Reasons Given and the Nutritional Status of Lactating Mothers of Mwanamukia Area- Nairobi

Abstract

Exclusive breastfeeding with appropriate complementary feeding can save infants from many problems later in life. The study found that majority of respondents were married (63.9%), single (25.5%). 43.1% had primary school education while 35.3% had attained Secondary ‘O’ level. The maximum household number was 12 while the average was 6. Most of them had Meru (25.5%) and Luhya (17.3%) ethnicity. The average monthly income was Kenya shilings27, 154.12. Business (28.6%) and housewives (23.9%). Household heads 51.2% men and 34.6 women. Most had 36-40 years age. 9.4% exclusively breastfed for 4 months while 2.7% breastfed exclusively for 6 months. 50% breastfed until one year while 27.84% breastfed for 1 and 11/2 years. Majority of the mothers (51.8%) introduced complementary feeds by three months. Cow’s milk was used (34.1 percent) followed by porridge at (22.4 percent). Lack of milk (29.8 percent) and lack of enough food were reasons for weaning early.