Breastfeeding and infant and child mortality, in Amagoro Division of Busia District, Kenya
Maternal and child health
9
Issue: 1
(04 - 1994)
This study examined the impact of breastfeeding
duration and age at supplementation on infant and
child mortality. Data was collected for both open
and closed intervals from women aged 15-49
years and resident in Amagoro Division, Busia
District, western Kenya. The study found that
breastfeeding initiation is quite high, with an
average of 99% of the women initiating
breastfeeding. The duration of breastfeeding is
long, with the majority of the women
breastfeeding for 19-24 months. The major
problem noted in the study is early
supplementation. By the age of 3-4 months about
70% of children in the open and closed intervals
were already being fed on other diets in addition
to breast milk. The study also found that, for both
the open and closed intervals, breastfeeding
duration, age at supplementation, work status of
the mother, type of toilet facility used by the
household, and immunizations received by the
child were significant in child survival. The major
conclusion derived from the results of the study is
that breastfeeding practices, environmental
factors, and socio-economic factors are very
significant in influencing infant and child deaths.
However, the impact of breastfeeding and age at
supplementation are greatly modified by
environmental and socio-economic factors. The
study therefore recommends the re-education of
health personnel, especially those in the Maternal
and Child Health clinics (MCH), on the
importance of breastfeeding and proper age at
supplementation for the children. The paper also
recommends that female employment
opportunities and female education be increased,
since maternal education highly determines the
work status of the mother and the nutritional,
health care and sanitary conditions of the
household.
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