Breastfeeding and Association with Diarrhoeal Diseases: A Tale of two Councils in South-Eastern Nigeria

Background: Diarrhoeal diseases remain the second global leading cause of infant mortality accounting more than the combined effects of AIDS, Measles, and Malaria. It remains the leading cause of under-5 mortality, in poor underdeveloped regions. The protective effects of good breastfeeding practices among infants against diarrhoeal diseases are well known, but its practice among nursing mothers remains a subject of concern.

Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of diarrhoeal diseases and its association with breastfeeding amongst breastfeeding infants attending Primary Healthcare Centres (PHC) in two area councils in South-Eastern Nigeria.

Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Selected Primary Healthcare Centres in two area councils- Nnewi-North and Nnewi-South in Anambra State of Nigeria between June and August, 2014.

Methods: Multi-staged sampling technique was applied in selecting the Health Centres and study participants. The mothers were interviewed using pretested self-administered questionnaire. Data analysis was done using STATA statistical software version 13 and the level of significance was determined at a p-value of less than 0.05.

Results: The prevalence of diarrhoeal diseases among the infants was 27%. Above half (55.0%) was within the 0-3 months age bracket, while 23.8%, 21.8% and 33.33% of exclusively, predominantly, and mixed fed infants respectively had diarrhoea. Following adjustment for maternal education and past history of diarrhoea, babies not on any form of breastfeeding were three-folds (OR: 2.93, 95%CI: 1.02-8.40) more likely than their breastfeeding counterparts to develop diarrhoeal disease. Similarly, exclusively breastfed babies were 73% (OR: 0.27, 95%CI: 0.09-0.86); and those predominantly-breastfed: 78% (OR: 0.22, 95%CI: 0.06-0.77) less likely to develop diarrhoeal diseases.

Conclusion: Exclusive breastfeeding and healthy breastfeeding and weaning practices should be encouraged amongst mothers in developing countries as a good protective measure against diarrhoeal diseases among infants.