Effect of peer support group counselling on infant and young child feeding practices of mothers in two rural communities in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Poor Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices contribute to high burden of child malnutrition in Nigeria. Mothers' support group interventions have the potential to reach and improve IYCF coverage among mothers, but their effects remain unexplored in Nigeria. This study was therefore conducted to determine the effects of peer support group counselling on infant feeding practices of mothers in selected rural communities in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study involving systematic sampling of 240 non-primigravid pregnant women from Ido and Oluyole Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Ibadan. Respondents (120) were assigned into Experimental Group (EG) (Ido) and Control Group (CG) (Oluyole). Baseline and endline data were collected using a semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire comprising sociodemographic characteristics and a 36-point practice scale on infant feeding. A fifteen months peer support intervention was provided in the EG community. Complementary feeding practices were assessed using multiple pass 24-hour dietary recall. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and students' Ttest at α _0.05

Results: Age of mothers was 28.7±5.1 years and 60.8% had secondary education. Mothers' practice of IYCF improved significantly from 16.6±2.9 at baseline to 18.1±2.8 in EG with no significant improvement among the CG (16.6±3.2 at baseline to 16.4±2.6 at end line). Early initiation (57.5%; 42.2%), exclusive breastfeeding (61.3%; 33.9%),timely introduction of complementary feeding (62.2%; 39.4%), and children that met minimum dietary diversity (64.2%; 30.6%) were higher in EG than CG respectively.

Conclusion: Peer support group counselling improved infant feeding practices. Efforts to improve appropriate infant feeding could incorporate the adoption of peer support groups.