title: Changes in breastfeeding and nutritional status of Nigerian children between 1990 and 2008, and variations by region, area of residence and maternal education and occupation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inadequate breastfeeding practices contribute to malnutrition in young children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study examined changes in breastfeeding practices and the nutritional status of children (0-35 months, n = 37154) using data from the nationally-representative Nigerian Demographic and Health Surveys for 1990-2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study estimated the relative changes in the proportion of children meeting recommended breastfeeding practices and the anthropometric indices of the children during the study period, by region, place of residence, maternal education and maternal occupation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In each study year, over 97% of the children were ever breastfed. The proportion of infants breastfed within 1 hour and 1 day of birth increased from 34% to 45.8%, and from 63.8% to 82.3%, respectively. Overall, breastfeeding for ≥ 12 months changed from 88.9% to 95.2%, an increase of 7%; however, an increase of 14% was observed in the northern region (from 86.1% to 97.8%) while a decline of 7% was observed in the southern region (from 97.1% to 89.9%). Over the study period, the prevalence of all the assessed indicators of malnutrition (stunting, wasting and underweight) increased in the northern region while the southern region experienced a decline in all except severe wasting. In both urban and rural areas, stunting and wasting increased, while underweight declined. Children of non-formally educated and unemployed mothers were more malnourished in all the study years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improvement in some breastfeeding practices did not result in improvement in the nutritional status of Nigerian children during 1990-2008, particularly in northern Nigeria and among socially disadvantaged mothers. Improving maternal education and employment, and integrating messages on techniques and benefits of optimal infant feeding with other maternal and child healthcare services could be beneficial.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Paediatrics , Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital , Nnewi , Anambra State Nigeria.
authors.forename: Chinyere U
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Onubogu
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition , University of Eastern Finland , Kuopio , Finland.
authors.forename: Ifeoma N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Onyeka
authors.affiliation: c Paediatric Association of Nigeria , Lagos , Nigeria.|d Providence Hospital Lagos , Nigeria.
authors.forename: Dorothy O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Esangbedo
authors.affiliation: e Dietitians Association of Nigeria.
authors.forename: Chika
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ndiokwelu
authors.affiliation: f Department of Paediatrics , University of Jos Teaching Hospital , Nigeria.
authors.forename: Selina N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Okolo
authors.affiliation: g Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics , University of Nigeria , Nsukka , Nigeria.
authors.forename: Elizabeth K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Ngwu
authors.affiliation: h Centre for Population Health Sciences , University of Edinburgh , UK.
authors.forename: Bright I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Nwaru
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000886:Anthropometry; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009790:Occupations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Breastfeeding; Demographic and health surveys; Infants; Nigeria; Nutritional status; Young children