CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0   BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Adequate nutrition during infancy and early childhood is essential to ensure the growth, health, and development of children their full potential. It has been recognized worldwide that breastfeeding is beneficial for both the mother and child, as breast milk is considered the best source of nutrition for an infant.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed for the first six months, followed by breastfeeding along with complementary foods for up to age or beyond. Exclusive breastfeeding can be defined as a practice whereby the infants receive only breast milk and not been water, other liquids, tea, herbal preparations, or food during months of life, with the exception of vitamins, mineral supplements, or medicines. The major advantage of exclusive breastfeeding from to 6 months includes reduced morbidity due to gastrointestinal infection. However, manyresearchers are questioning there is sufficient evidence to confidently recommend exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months for infants in developed countries due to the fact that breast milk may not meet the full energy requirements of e average infant at 6 months of age. Nevertheless, there is scanty data that give estimation about the proportion of exclusively breastfed infants at risk of specific nutritional deficiencies.
Several studies have shown that mothers find it difficult to meet personal goals and to adhere to the expert recommendations for continued and exclusive breastfeeding despite increase rate of initiations. Some of the major factors that affect exclusivity and duration of breastfeeding include breast problems such as sore nipples or mother's perceptions that she is producing inadequate milk, societal barriers such as employment and length of maternity leave; inadequate breastfeeding knowledge; lack of familial and societal support; lack of guidance and encouragement from health When breast milk or infant formula no longer supplies required energy and nutrients to sustain normal growth health and development, complementary feeding care professionals. These factors in tum promote the early use of breast milk substitute.
When breast milk or infant formula no longer supplies infants with required energy and nutrients to sustain normal growth and optimal health and development, complementary feeding should be introduced. According to the WHO recommendation, the appropriate age at which solids should be introduced is around 6 months owing to the immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract and the renal system as well as on the neurophysiological status of the infant. Factors that influence the weaning process include infant feeding problems such as refusal to eat, colic, and vomiting among These factors represent challenges for mothers and in tum direct or indirectly influence the feeding pattern Hence, understanding the factors affecting infant nutrition in Nigeria can help in developing strategies to promote breastfeeding and overcoming problems faced by mothers and children.
Predictors of breastfeeding and weaning practices vary between and within countries. Urban or rural difference, age, breast problems, good breastfeeding practices, mode of delivery, heal system practices, and community beliefs have all been found to influence breastfeeding in different areas of developing countries. Information on the prevalence and factors influencing infant feeding practices is limited in Nigeria and dates back to 1996. This present study determine infant feeding pattern and its predictors among Nigerian mothers with the following objectives: to elucidate breastfeeding practices, in terms of initiation, exclusivity, and termination, and the factors influencing them; to determine the time when weaning starts, the challenges met by mothers, and the type of weaning adopted.