- A report has said that more than half of the Nigerian children are appropriately breastfed by their mothers in Nigeria
- The report said 56% of children between the ages of 0 and 23 months whose parents lived in urban areas were appropriately breastfed
- Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey was carried out in partnership with National Bureau of Statistics and other health agencies in Nigeria
A report has said that more than half of the Nigerian children are appropriately breastfed by their mothers.
The fifth round of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS5) shows that 58.2% of a total 10,898 children between the ages of 0 and 23 months placed under survey are appropriately breastfed.
The report carried out by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in collaboration with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) and National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA), as part of the global MICS programme also showed that 23.7% of Nigerian children between 0 and five months are exclusively breastfed while those between six months and 23 months currently receiving solid, semi-solid or soft foods stands at 69.7%.
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Using mothers’ education, family wealth and many other parameters as indices, the report further showed that 56% of children between the ages of 0 and 23 months whose parents lived urban areas were appropriately breastfed while their 59.2% of their counterparts in rural areas were appropriately breastfed.
Similarly, children whose mothers had no form of education, non-formal, primary, secondary or higher education who were appropriately stood at 62.4%, 62.8%, 58.2%, 52.3% and 50.6 respectively.
A UNICEF monitoring and evaluation specialist, Maureen Zubie-Okolo, at a media training said the data for MICS5 was collated between September 2016 and January 2017 from 33,901 households in 2,239 enumeration areas across the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory.
Zubie-Okolo said journalists need to learn to process, analyse and visualise data. She said the skill to process data is needed for telling better stories on developmental issues and help policy makers in taking the right decision in the country.
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She added that reporting forms the basis for sound advocacy, fund raising and sustenance for developmental issues among many others.
In the past, the United Nations Children's Fund had said that breastfeeding which cost effective is a proven means of saving the lives of babies. UNICEF also said that by increasing breastfeeding 820,000 lives can be saved annually.
Also, under nutrition has been estimated to be associated with 2.7 million child deaths annually or 45% of all child deaths while infant and young child feeding is one of the major areas to improve child survival.
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Subsequently, the first two years of a child’s life are particularly important, as optimal nutrition during this period lowers morbidity and mortality, reduces the risk of chronic disease, and fosters better development overall.
Optimal breastfeeding is so critical that it could save the lives of over 820 000 children under the age of five years each year.
UNICEF in collaboration with the World Health Organisation describing breastfeeding as a natural act and a learner behaviour said it is important that mothers and other caregivers receive adequate support for establishing appropriate breastfeeding.
This includes exclusive breastfeeding - without water, formula or any kind of food - for a child within the first six months of his/her life.
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To sustain this act, both organisations recommended that breast milk is introduced within the first one hour of life and it continues to provide up to half or more of the child's nutritional needs during the second half of the first year.
NAIJ.com earlier reported that UNICEF had said that Nigeria ranks among the highest on newborn deaths in the world
The organistion in its report said that the number of death recorded would have been avoided if there was availability of medical care to all pregnant women
It also said it is currently carrying a campaign on the preservation of the lives of newborn babies by helping to provide health care.
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Source: Naija.ng