1 in 3 Niger children not breastfed ‘at all’ – Study

A study has found out that one in three children under age two in Niger State were not breastfed at all. The study, commissioned by Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition In Nigeria (CS-SUNN) under an accountability project Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH), found “inappropriate breastfeeding, no breastfeeding at all and complementary feeding […]

A study has found out that one in three children under age two in Niger State were not breastfed at all.
The study, commissioned by Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition In Nigeria (CS-SUNN) under an accountability project Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH), found “inappropriate breastfeeding, no breastfeeding at all and complementary feeding practice coupled with high rates of infections” is contributing to Niger’s high burden of malnutrition, said CS-SUNN chairperson, Prof NgoziNnam.
Untreated cases of malaria havebeen a problem for 9.3% of children aged five and below, and diarrhoea for 8.3%, according to the report.
“Equally underlying Niger’s very poor nutrition and health indices is lack of access to basic healthcare, water and sanitation,” said Nnam at a sensitisation meeting in Minna with Niger State policy makers alongside the Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency. “Sixty-three percent of mothers experience difficulties in accessing healthcare.”
The latest Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey indicates one out of every three children under age five in Niger is too short for their age, 18% are too thin for their age and 11% have body weight that does not correspond to their age.
CS-SUNN has called on the state government to implement a National Strategic Plan of Action for Nutrition, NSPAN, a five-year plan that targets by 2019 to reduce the number of children aged under five and too short for their age by 20% across the country. It also targets reducing low birthweight by 15% while ensuring child overweight does not increase.
NSPAN also targets wasting – too thin for age – will be limited to only 10% of children, while halving anaemia in women of reproductive age and doubling the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life.
CS-SUNN has also called on Niger State to increase funding for maternal and child nutrition through its health, agriculture and education ministries, and ensure prompt release of funds budgeted for nutrition interventions.
Nnam added the group wanted to see Niger State promote “accountability and effective management of released funds in implementation of nutrition sensitive and specific interventions.”