KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE ON INFANT WEANING AMONGST NURSING MOTHERS IN IGARRA, EDO STATE

TOPIC: KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE ON INFANT WEANING AMONGST NURSING MOTHERS IN IGARRA, EDO STATE

TOPIC IS SUITABLE FOR:
1-Department of Nursing Science
2-Department of Public Health
3-Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics
4-Department of Community Health
This research material contains:
1-Chapter One to Five
2-Recent References/Citations
3-Tables in Chapter Four
4-Accurate Data Analysis
5-Table of Contents
6-Questionnaire

ABSTRACT 
This study was carried out to examine the knowledge and practice of infant weaning amongst nursing mothers in Igarra, Edo State. The study was specifically carried out to assess the level of knowledge of infant weaning among nursing mothers in Igarra, Edo State, examine the sources of information influencing knowledge of infant weaning among nursing mothers in Igarra, determine the common practices of infant weaning among nursing mothers in the study area and identify factors influencing infant weaning practices among nursing mothers in Igarra, Edo State. The study employed the descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised 1,250 nursing mothers in Igarra, Edo State. A total of 303 respondents were selected as sample size using multi-stage sampling technique involving stratified and convenience sampling methods, while 288 validated copies of questionnaire were used for analysis. Hence, the questionnaire was used for data collection, while the data collected were analyzed using frequency tables and percentage scores. From the responses obtained and analyzed, the findings revealed that nursing mothers in Igarra had a moderate level of knowledge of infant weaning, as 59.0% of the respondents agreed that they knew the appropriate age to introduce complementary foods, while 59.0% agreed that exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months. The study also showed that sources of information moderately influenced knowledge of infant weaning, as 57.0% of respondents agreed that healthcare workers were their major source of information, while 56.9% agreed that antenatal and postnatal clinics provided important information. Likewise, the study further revealed that infant weaning practices among nursing mothers were moderate, as 54.9% agreed that they introduced complementary foods at six months, while 55.5% agreed that they continued breastfeeding during weaning. The study also revealed that several factors moderately influenced infant weaning practices, as 54.9% agreed that financial status influenced weaning practices, while 54.9% agreed that availability of nutritious foods affected weaning practices. The study therefore recommends that healthcare providers and relevant health agencies should intensify awareness campaigns and educational programmes on proper infant weaning practices among nursing mothers.
Keywords: Infant Weaning, Knowledge, Practice, Nursing Mothers, Complementary Feeding.

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION (Preview)
1.1 Background of the Study
Nutrition is a cornerstone of public health, and it continues to be a critical issue affecting human survival, growth and development throughout the life course. From infancy to adulthood, food consumed is responsible for physiology, cognition and disease resistance. Ezechi et al., (2021) showed that nutrition quality in early life is known to be a key factor in future health and development. In the same vein, Mathew and Gadzama (2023) found that nutrition building blocks laid in the early years of life had a profound impact on future health outcomes. West et al. (2022) also added that infancy was a stage of fast growth and greater nutritional needs and added that feeding practices during these stages must be well controlled to ensure optimal development. Similarly, Faiz et al. (2022) pointed out that it was very important to have nutrition adequacy in early childhood for avoiding developmental delays, and for ensuring immune competence. These views culminated into the infant nutrition as an important field of study in health-related research, which lead to the study of feeding practices to provide healthy growth and survival.
Infant feeding is an organized procedure and process to address the nutritional requirements of newborns and young children, primarily using breastfeeding and then introducing complementary foods. One of the important factors in this process is the infant weaning, or the transition from breastfeeding to family foods as would be developmentally appropriate. According to Adeola et al. (2023), weaning infants is a gradual process of introducing solid and semi-solid foods to replace milk-based foods. Ekeleme et al., (2021) observed that there was a need for the transition to provide for the growing energy and micronutrient demands of the child which breast milk alone could no longer suffice. Moreover, Faiz et al. (2022) found that good weaning practices included providing safe, adequate, and nutritionally-balanced foods in a timely manner for optimum growth. Moreover, Shittu et al. (2025) pointed out that contextual and maternal understandings were major factors in the different weaning practices. So, weaning as a period in infants' lives was a critical period in which feeding decisions had to be made and they must be informed and appropriate.
Knowledge and practice is a concept that has a great impact in the shaping of the infant feeding behaviour of nursing mothers. Knowledge is defined as the extent to which the individual has awareness, understanding and information about infant nutrition and recommended guidelines and practice is defined as the extent to which the individual applies infant nutrition and recommended guidelines to daily care giving tasks. Oputa-Uzoukwu and Joseph (2026) reported that awareness of appropriate timing of infant feeding, consistency of food and nutrition required for child development were all aspects of infant feeding practices that maternal knowledge encompassed. Likewise, Nukpezah and Konlan (2025) found that the level of understanding and exposure to health information had significant influence on the feeding behaviours of nursing mothers. Adeola et al. (2023) also stated that such sufficient maternal knowledge often resulted in better infant feeding practice, but this was not always the case as there were other determinants of practice. It was also observed by Shittu et al. (2025) that sometimes there were differences between mother's knowledge and what they actually do in real life. Therefore, the knowledge–practice dichotomy is explored, to better understand mothers' role in infant weaning.
Infant weaning practices vary with different cultural and geographical contexts, influenced by a variety of social norms, beliefs and health information systems. Alhaji et al. (2026) also noted that cultural and community preferences had a great impact on the decision of mothers in child feeding. In a number of contexts, traditional beliefs and modern health advice were intertwined, and there were some differences in how weaning was done. West et al. (2022) highlighted the importance of context-specific studies to gain understanding of how mothers were interpreting and using infant feeding guidelines in their context. Oputa-Uzoukwu and Joseph (2026) also noted that socio-economic status and health education also affected the mothers' choice of feeding. Nursing mothers in Igarra, Edo State live in an unique socio-cultural context which may influence their infant weaning knowledge and practice in different ways. Thus, information about the way these mothers cope with the transition from exclusive breastfeeding to complementary feeding is crucial. The knowledge and practice of infant weaning amongst nursing mothers in Igarra Edo State is thus the target of this study.

1.2   Statement of the Problem
The provision of infant nutrition is still an important factor within child health and development and breastfeeding and complementary feeding are taken seriously by health systems on the global level as well as the local level. Structured guides have been created in many settings to help mothers promote optimal growth and development of their infants in the early years of life. Infant feeding practices were identified as key factors that influence children's survival and growth and development (Mathew & Gadzama, 2023), while Ezechi et al. (2021) stated that proper nutrition transition during infancy were essential for ensuring stability in the health of children. Likewise West et al. (2022) stated that recommended feeding practices considered to facilitate optimum growth were developed to coincide with the time of rapid physiological change. It is expected that the nursing mothers have a good knowledge and practice recommended infant weaning practices according to health standards. But the level of attainment of these expectations differs from population to population and from setting to setting.
Although there are health education and awareness creation programmes, there are many communities where there are inconsistencies in mothers' knowledge and the use of suitable infant weaning practices. In some cases, mothers have been seen to start complementary feeding too early and/or too late, or use sub-optimal feeding practices, which do not meet the standards. Adeola et al. (2023) found that knowledge was not necessarily, translated into good practice and the gaps between maternal knowledge and feeding practices were observed by Shittu et al. (2025). Moreover, Oputa-Uzoukwu and Joseph (2026) reported that there were differences in the knowledge of infant nutritional needs among the mothers, which may account for the differences in their weaning practices. The best case scenario would be for all nursing mothers to possess the knowledge and practice correct weaning techniques; but given the present context, this may not necessarily be the case. This disconnect in knowledge and practice is a red flag that many infant feeding outcomes are less than effective and that there are many areas where this is the case.
In Igarra, Edo State, the situation is similar, with the concern of the non-uniform application of recommended infant weaning guidelines by nursing mothers despite health information. Some studies related to the topic showed that the context (cultural beliefs, education and health services) might affect maternal feeding decisions. Nukpezah and Konlan (2025) observed that socio-cultural and informational influences were influential in the feeding practices of mothers, while Alhaji et al. (2026) reported on the community based factors that affected infant feeding behaviours. While health institutions keep advocating for best infant-feeding practices, there is still inadequate empirical evidence on the knowledge level on and the actual practices of Igarra nursing mothers. This leaves a gap in knowledge on the link between the mother's knowledge and actions regarding infant weaning. This study, therefore, aims at assessing the knowledge and practice of infant weaning amongst nursing mothers in Igarra, Edo State to obtain information that will assist in evidence-based targeted interventions.
1.3 Objective of the Study
The study's overall purpose is to assess knowledge and practice on infant weaning amongst nursing mothers in Igarra, Edo State. The study, on the other hand, was focused on achieving these precise goals:
1.Assess the level of knowledge of infant weaning among nursing mothers in Igarra, Edo State.
2.Examine the sources of information influencing knowledge of infant weaning among nursing mothers in Igarra.
3.Determine the common practices of infant weaning among nursing mothers in the study area.
4.Identify factors influencing infant weaning practices among nursing mothers in Igarra, Edo State.
OTHER PARTS OF CHAPTER ONE INCLUDE:
1.4 Research Questions: 
1.5 Significance of the Study
1.6 Scope of the Study
1.7 Definition of Terms

CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE (Preview)
This chapter critically examines relevant literature that would assist in explaining the research problem and, furthermore, recognizes the efforts of scholars who had previously contributed immensely to similar research. The chapter intends to deepen the understanding of the study and close the perceived gaps. This chapter, therefore, focuses on the concept of infant weaning, the concept of knowledge of infant weaning, practices of infant weaning, types of infant weaning, factors influencing infant weaning practices, and the relationship between nursing mothers’ knowledge and practice of infant weaning etc. The chapter is sub-grouped into the following major headings:
2.1 Conceptual Framework
2.2 Theoretical Framework
2.3 Empirical Review
2.4 Summary of Literature Review

CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY  (Preview)
Presented below is a snapshot of key areas of the study methodology, the full and detail chapter three methodology is contained in the instant download document.

Research Design: The study adopted a descriptive research design.
Population of the Study: The population of the study comprises nursing mothers in selected healthcare facilities and communities in Igarra, Edo State.
Sample Size Determination: The study adopted the Taro Yamane formula to determine a sample size of 303 participants.
Sampling Technique: The study employed a multi-stage sampling technique involving proportionate allocation and convenience sampling to select the individual respondents.
Research Instrument: The study utilized a structured questionnaire titled “Knowledge and Practice of Infant Weaning among Nursing Mothers in Igarra, Edo State” as the instrument for data collection.
Methods of Data Analysis: The collected data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages to summarize and present the demographic characteristics of the respondents and their opinions. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and presented in tables, charts, and graphs.
Full outline for chapter three:
3.1 Research Design
3.2 Research Setting
3.3 Target Population
3.4 Sample Size
3.5 Sampling Technique
3.6 Instruments For Data Collection
3.7 Validity and Reliability of Instrument
3.8 Pilot Study
3.9 Method of Data Collection
3.10 Method Of Data Analysis
3.11 Ethical considerations

CHAPTER FOUR; DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
MAJOR FINDINGS (Preview)
The analysis results were presented in tables. Based on the results obtained from the analysis, the following findings are made: 

i. The study found that nursing mothers in Igarra, Edo State, have a moderate level of knowledge of infant weaning, as evidenced by the responses indicating awareness of the appropriate age for introducing complementary foods, exclusive breastfeeding, suitable weaning foods, and nutritional requirements during weaning.

ii. The study found that healthcare workers, family members, social media, friends and neighbours, radio and television programmes, and antenatal and postnatal clinics are sources of information influencing knowledge of infant weaning among nursing mothers in Igarra, Edo State, with an overall moderate influence.

iii. The study found that nursing mothers in Igarra, Edo State, demonstrate a moderate level of infant weaning practices, as evidenced by their responses on introducing complementary foods at six months, preparing suitable foods, maintaining proper hygiene, providing nutritious foods, gradually increasing food quantity and texture, and continuing breastfeeding.

iv. The study found that financial status, cultural beliefs, family pressure, availability of nutritious foods, advice from healthcare workers, and educational level influence infant weaning practices among nursing mothers in Igarra, Edo State, with an overall moderate influence.

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
This chapter covers the following outline:
5.1 Discussion of Findings 
5.2 Implication of the Findings
5.3 Limitation of the study
5.4 Summary 
5.5 Conclusion
5.6 Recommendations
5.7 Suggestions for Further Studies
Reference
Appendix

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