Socio-Cultural Influence on the Knowledge of Infant Nutrition among Mothers in a Local Council South-East, Nigeria: Implications for Social Work

Abstract

Infant nutrition is crucial for public health since it aids in the prevention of chronic diseases later in life. The study focused on socio-cultural factors influencing the knowledge of infant nutritional needs among mothers in a local council in Southeast Nigeria. The study utilized a cross-sectional survey design with 200 participants who were women of reproductive age (18 and older) selected from communities in a local council. The study’s findings show that mothers’ low educational level contributed to low level of knowledge of nutritional needs of infants. The results indicate that most respondents (80.9%) believed that both parents should be well aware of an infant’s nutritional needs in order to achieve excellent feeding practices. The study revealed various behaviors that do not improve adequate feeding practices for infants based on the respondents’ local knowledge, attitude, and beliefs. The study suggests social workers can help pregnant and parenting women eliminate barriers to breastfeeding by engaging them in prenatal care through therapeutic talks, early intervention programs, both in hospitals, and collaboration with families. The study concludes that there is a link between poor nutrition and family breadwinner roles, literacy level, occupation, and income. There is need for future studies that will involve key community figures including mothers, fathers and other community members. This will help in deeper understanding of social and cultural barriers to proper feeding practices in infants and improve better policy interventions and social work practices.

Keywords:

• Infant nutrition
• local knowledge
• maternal education
• poor nutrition
• public health

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledged mothers from rural areas who participated in this study with no grudges.

Availability of Data and Materials

Data are available on request.

Disclosure Statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Ethical Statement

There is no animal participation in the research. The informed (verbal) consent of the participants was obtained prior to their participation in the study.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Chikasie Ikpeama

Chikasie Ikpeama is a lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She is a PhD student at the above-named university. Her research interests focus on medical social work, health/mental health, working mothers, youth and national development, and importance of social support.

Favour Uroko

Favour Uroko is a researcher at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. His research interests include religion, peace, conflict, and gender development.

Christopher Ngwu

Christopher Ngwu is a professor at the department of social work at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He has published nationally and internationally in well-known journals. His areas of interest include medical social work, social policies, health, and national development.