Duration Of Breastfeeding as Predictor of Anthropometric Indices of Weight, Height, And Body Mass Of 0 – 24 Months Children In Delta State

Abstract

This study investigated duration of breastfeeding as predictor of anthropometric indices of weight, height, and body mass of 0 – 24 months children in Delta State. The study adopted the descriptive research design. The population for this study consisted of 687,571 breastfed children within their 24 months of age whose mothers registered in the 473 Primary HealthCare Centres (Urban and Rural) in Delta State. It included mothers and their children within their two years of life attending the Primary Health Care Centres in Urban and Rural areas of Delta State. The sample size for this study was 631 using A systematic sampling technique. The instrument for the study was a questionnaire which contains items on selected demographics data, items on duration of breastfeeding, and items on anthropometric indices. Stadiometer either standardized or improvised was used to measure the children’s height, while weighing scale that are functional and calibrated to the zero pointer was employed in the estimation of the babies’ weight and the weighing was done on the same time of the day with minimal or no clothing.