However, from recent report Nigeria’s progress towards reducing child mortality by a two-third since 1990 is off track, with only an average of 1.2% reduction in under-five mortality yearly (FMH and Save the Children 2011). The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) number 4 targeted the reduction of child mortality by two-third by the year 2015. Thus, complementary feeding process has been associated with major changes in both macronutrient and micronutrient intake of children resulting in malnutrition. Also during the complementary feeding period, the frequency of feeding for the child is usually low, while the quantities and qualities of foods given are usually less than that required for the ages of the child. In Nigeria, over 50% infants are given complementary foods before 6 months and these foods are often of poor nutritional value-mostly inadequate in terms of energy, protein and micronutrients such as iron, zinc, iodine and vitamin A (Federal Ministry of Health 2005). Generally, the risk of malnutrition in the first 2 years of life has been directly linked with poor breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices of mothers together with high rate of infectious diseases (Arimond and Ruel 2004 Lutter and Rivera 2003 Daelmans and Saadeh 2003).
On the other hand obesity stands at 9% among under-five children (National Population Commision (NPC) and ICF Macro 2009). About 23% of children under-5 years are underweight in Nigeria and the prevalence among children aged 6–23 months is 24% wasting among under-five children is 13%, and 17% among children aged 6–23 months. In Nigeria 41% of children under-5 years of age are stunted, with an increase from 27% at age 6 months to 50% at 23 months which is the period were complementary feeding intensifies. About 178 million children globally are stunted and Africa has the highest rates (WHO 2012). Malnutrition is one of the principal underlying causes of death for many of the world’s children contributing to more than a third of under-five deaths globally. Malnutrition in children resulting from inadequate feeding and child care and disease is a major public health problem throughout the developing world including Nigeria (Muller and Krawinkel 2005). Food restrictions due to cultural practices, unhygienic practice in bottle feeding, food handling/preparation and responsive breast feeding are also issues of concern during the complementary feeding period for the child (Kruger and Gericke 2003). Some common practices by mothers during the complementary feeding period bother on the types of food given to infants and the adequacy and frequency of feeding. In introducing complementary foods feeding behaviour of mothers change and mothers and/or caregivers adopt various feeding practices which may not comply with standards for optimal infant feeding. And at this time when breast milk is no longer sufficient to meet the nutritional requirements of the child especially for energy and micronutrients complementary feeding process is expected to begin. For healthy mothers exclusive breast-feeding of infants for up to 6 months is recommended. Optimal infant feeding practice is an important factor in determining growth and development of a child.
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