Infant feeding practices during the first six months of life in a rural area in Tanzania

OBJECTIVE

To assess breastfeeding practices in infants aged 0-6 months, focussing particularly on beliefs, knowledge and practices affecting exclusive breastfeeding.

DESIGN

A house-to-house survey with individual interviews using a structured questionnaire, key informants interviews and focus group discussions.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred and seven mothers were interviewed, nearly all of those living in Nkinga community with infants less than seven months old. The focus group discussions and key informant interviews were also held.

SETTING

Nkinga community, Igunga District, Tabora region, Tanzania.

RESULTS

Sixty four per cent of the sample was put to the breast within two to eleven hours. Prelacteal feeds were given to about 25% of the infants. The type of prelacteal fluid given was mainly glucose water in hospital and plain water with home deliveries. Forty six per cent of the mothers discarded colostrum. The median duration of exclusive breastfeeding was about two months and of full breastfeeding was about four months.

CONCLUSION

The average duration of exclusive breastfeeding, though far below recommended levels, is higher than is found in most studies in Africa and Tanzania. This may be due to the efforts of hospital staff who had received special training on breastfeeding in recent years.