Breastfeeding in Nigeria: Patterns, Correlates and Fertility Effects

ABSTRACT

Using information obtained from 8,781 women aged between 15 and 49 years, who were successfully interviewed during the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, this study analyzes the patterns, correlates and fertility effects of breastfeeding in Nigeria. The study examines the main factors that are associated with breastfeeding behaviour and estimates the mean duration of any and full breastfeeding for the country and various subgroups. A large proportion of mothers in the country are found to initiate breastfeeding and substantial proportion continue breastfeeding beyond 12 months after birth. However, the pattern of breastfeeding initiation reveals that over 40 percent of mothers avoided feeding of colostrum, thereby denying their babies of the first 'immunization' which is provided by the colostrum. Despite the long duration of breastfeeding, most children are given supplementary foods at an early age. It is almost universal in the country to give plain water to children currently being breastfed regardless of how young the child is. Exclusive breastfeeding is practised by less than 1 percent of currently breastfeeding women. Logistic regression on current status breastfeeding information shows a range of influences associated with any and full breastfeeding continuation. Maternal education, urban residence and use of contraception have significant negative effects on any breastfeeding continuation. Utilization of modern health care facilities, measured by assistance at delivery by medical personnel is negatively associated with breastfeeding continuation. Northern residence increases the chance of continuing breastfeeding. The study also reveals that maternal education, urban residence and work status show expected significant negative impact on full breastfeeding continuation. Northern region residence, in contrast to Southern residence is associated with increased likelihood of full breastfeeding. The study also establishes that the major impacts of breastfeeding on fertility work through postpartum amenorrhea. - Amenorrhea is the principal path through which breastfeeding affects postpartum sexual abstinence. Consequently, postpartum infecundability due to breastfeeding and postpartum sexual abstinence is the most important suppressor of fertility in the country. A decomposition of the inhibiting effect of postpartum infecundability shows that postpartum amenorrhea averts 6 births while postpartum sexual abstinence averts less than 2 births per woman