Objective: The present study aimed to examine the trends and differentials in key
breast-feeding indicators in Nigeria for the period 1999–2013.
Design: Longitudinal study of trends (1999–2013) in optimal feeding practices
using a series of population-based Nigerian Demographic and Health Surveys.
Trends in socio-economic, health service and individual characteristics associated
with key breast-feeding indicators were examined using multilevel regression
analyses.
Setting: Nigeria.
Subjects: Children (n 88 152) aged under 24 months (n 8199 in 1999; n 7620 in
2003; n 33 385 in 2008; n 38 948 in 2013).
Results: Among educated mothers, there was an increase in prevalence of
exclusive breast-feeding (26 % in 1999 to 30 % in 2013) and predominant breastfeeding
(27 % in 1999 to 39 % in 2013) compared with mothers with no schooling.
A similar increasing trend was evident for mothers from wealthier households and
mothers who had a higher frequency of health service access compared with
mothers from poorer households and women who reported no health service
access, respectively. Mothers with no schooling predominantly breast-fed, but the
odds for bottle-feeding were higher among educated mothers and women from
wealthier households. The odds for early initiation of breast-feeding were lower
for mothers who reported no health service contacts and mothers of lower
socio-economic status.
Conclusions: Significant increasing trends in key breast-feeding indicators were
evident among mothers with higher socio-economic status and mothers who had
more health service access in Nigeria. Broader national and sub-national policies
that underpin nursing mothers in work environments and a comprehensive
community-based approach are proposed to improve feeding practices in Nigeria.