Peer-reviewed article
Patterns and predictors of infant and young child feeding practices among mothers of children aged 6–23 months in Plateau State, Nigeria: a mixed-methods comparison of nutrition intervention beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries
Demilade Osoteku, Abdulateef Salisu, Muyi Aina, Precious Uahomo, Majeed Adisa et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This study looked at what mothers of children aged 6–23 months in Plateau State, Nigeria, know, think and do about infant and young child feeding. It compared mothers who took part in the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project with mothers who did not. 503 mothers answered questionnaires, and the researchers also held 8 focus groups and 12 key informant interviews. Participating mothers had better feeding practice scores, but knowledge was low overall and did not differ between the groups. Poverty, food insecurity and cultural norms made it hard for mothers to apply what they knew.
Key points
- Adequate knowledge was found in 21.1% of mothers, positive attitudes in 91.4% and good feeding practices in 55.7%.
- Beneficiaries had higher practice scores than non-beneficiaries (mean 6.95 vs. 6.34, p < 0.001).
- Non-beneficiaries had slightly higher attitude scores (3.68 vs. 3.52, p = 0.012), and knowledge scores did not differ significantly.
- Tertiary education was linked to adequate knowledge in both groups, and information from healthcare providers was the strongest predictor of knowledge and attitudes among beneficiaries.
- Focus groups and interviews named poverty, food insecurity and cultural norms as barriers, and said hands-on food demonstrations improved practical skills.
Limitations
The cross-sectional design measures mothers at one point in time, so it cannot show that ANRiN caused the better practices or whether the groups differed beforehand. It also does not report child nutrition outcomes such as stunting, and the findings are limited to Plateau State.
Abstract
Background Nigeria ranks second globally in the burden of stunted children, with 40% of children under five affected and poor infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices as a primary contributor. This study assessed mothers' knowledge, attitudes, and feeding practices related to IYCF in Plateau State, Nigeria, comparing beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project, and identifying sociodemographic predictors associated with these outcomes. Methods A mixed-methods cross-sectional design was employed. A total of 503 mothers of children aged 6–23 months completed structured questionnaires for quantitative analysis, while 8 focus group discussions and 12 key informant interviews provided qualitative data. Knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were computed with categorization (adequate/inadequate, positive/negative, good/poor). Data were analyzed using chi-square tests, independent t -tests, and multivariable logistic regression stratified by beneficiary status. Results The overall prevalence of adequate knowledge was 21.1%, positive attitudes 91.4%, and good feeding practices 55.7%. Beneficiaries demonstrated significantly better practice scores than non-beneficiaries (mean 6.95 ± 1.42 vs. 6.34 ± 1.57, p < 0.001), while non-beneficiaries showed slightly higher attitude scores (3.68 ± 0.64 vs. 3.52 ± 0.77, p = 0.012). No significant difference in knowledge scores was observed. Maternal tertiary education was significantly associated with adequate knowledge in both groups ( p < 0.01), while healthcare provider information was the strongest predictor of knowledge and attitudes among beneficiaries ( p < 0.001 and p = 0.019, respectively). Qualitative findings identified poverty, food insecurity, and cultural norms as barriers to applying knowledge, while hands-on food demonstrations improved practical skills. Conclusion The study highlights a persistent knowledge-practice gap and demonstrates that ANRiN participation is associated with improved feeding practices. The distinct predictors between beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries suggest that tailored interventions accounting for these differential factors could strengthen IYCF program effectiveness in Nigeria.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project, a nutrition intervention for mothers and young children
- Population
- 503 mothers of children aged 6–23 months in Plateau State, Nigeria, both ANRiN beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries
Key finding
Practice scores were higher among beneficiaries (6.95 ± 1.42 vs. 6.34 ± 1.57, p < 0.001).
Osoteku et al. · OpenAlex · 30 Sept 2026