Background: This
study aims to assess breastfeeding
pattern among mothers and nutritional
status of children under two
years.
Methodology: The cross sectional
study was carried out in Oshogbo
Local Government Area, Osun
State. A total of 350 nursing
mothers and their children undertwo
years were randomly selected
systematically. A structured questionnaire
was used to obtain information
on the bio-data and socio- economic characteristics of the
mothers. Breast feeding knowledge
and pattern was assessed and
anthropometric measurements
taken. Data was subjected to descriptive
and inferential statistics
using SPSS version 20.
Results: One-third(32.6%) of the
mothers were between 26-30years
of age and 40% of the children
were between 7-12 months old.
Only 2.6% of the mothers earned
>$400 per month. Most mothers
(85.7%) had adequate knowledge
about optimal breastfeeding, 72%
initiated breastfeeding more than
1hr after birth and about 72% gave
prelacteal meal. About 16.4%
breastfed exclusively. Only 16.6%
express breast-milk and the median
duration for continued breastfeeding
in this study was
18months. Complementary foods
given to the children are mostly
home prepared cereals, solids and
semi-solid foods. About 30.4% of
the children were stunted, 25.4%
were underweight and 15.3% were
wasted. However 4.3% mothers
were underweight, 29.1% were
overweight and 2.6% were obese.
Maternal age, family structure,
parity and monthly income were
significantly related to their
knowledge of and the pattern of
breastfeeding.
Conclusion: The practice of exclusive
breastfeeding and use of expressed
breast milk is poor among
the mothers. Stunting was also
high among the children