Infant feeding in Nigeria

A study by questionnaire of 1845 urban and 349 rural mothers in all regions of Nigeria is reported. 99% of all mothers commenced breastfeeding their infants. In urban areas most continued for at least 6 months and in rural areas for at least 12 months. In urban areas, 77% of the infants were given infant formula by the age of 3 months; in rural areas 40% were given infant formula. Cereals were also introduced early to many children. The reasons for and the effects of this pattern of infant feeding are not clear, but it presumably meets the overall needs of the population. Further investigation is needed before attempts are made to enforce change.