Abstract

This study investigated the different patterns of feeding infants and their corresponding effects on children’s health. There are anti – effective properties present in human milk which help children to fight against many childhood diseases. The long –term effect of breast milk like intelligence, socialization and personality development of children supersedes its immediate result. Despite these advantages and awareness created by government and non – governmental organizations, many mothers still do not practice giving the breast milk in the appropriate way to their children, hence the need for the study. The research design was the survey type with its population consisting of all nursing mothers in Ado – Ekiti Local Government Area, out of which 200 were chosen as sample using random, accidental and purposive sampling techniques. A self constructed questionnaire was used for data collection. The data collected were analysed with the use of descriptive statistics and testing of hypotheses. The findings show that majority of the nursing mothers breastfed their children and that the different patterns did not have much impact on the health of the children. Based on the findings, it was recommended that more enlightenment programmes be embarked upon by the government on appropriate breast feeding and the general care of the infant in order to eradicate infant morbidity and mortality.

Key words: Breastfeeding, Health, Children, Nigeria.