Determinants of suboptimal breastfeeding practices in Nigeria: evidence from the 2008 demographic and health survey

Table 1 Key breastfeeding indicators among children 0–23 months, Nigeria 2008 (n = 10225)

Indicators	Sample size N* (weighted)	n† (unweighted)	Rate (%)	95% CI
Early initiation of breastfeeding rate (0–23 months)(0–11 months)	5604	2116	37.80	35.90	39.70
(12–23 months)	4621	1738	37.62	35.52	39.76
(0–23 months)	10225	3854	37.70	36.01	39.41
Exclusive breastfeeding rate (0–5 months)(0–1 months)	738	149	20.18	17.08	23.67
(2–3 months)	1011	146	14.42	12.11	17.07
(4–5 months)	1083	86	7.96	6.28	10.04
(0–3 months)	1749	295	16.85	14.78	19.14
(0–5 months)	2832	381	13.45	11.89	15.17
Predominant breastfeeding rate (0–5 months)	2832	1361	48.08	45.70	50.47
Bottle-feeding rate (0–5 months)
(0–5 months)	2832	433	15.29	13.68	17.05
(6–11 months)	2772	372	13.40	11.96	14.99
(12–23 months)	4621	338	7.32	6.46	8.29
(0–23 months)	10225	1143	11.18	10.34	12.07

N* = Population size n† = Positive cases.
(i) Early initiation of breastfeeding: The proportion of children 0–23 months of age who were put to the breast within one hour of birth.
(i) Exclusive Breastfeeding: The proportion of infants 0–5 months of age who received breast milk as the only source of nourishment (but allows oral rehydration solution, drops or syrups of vitamins and medicines).
(iii) Predominant breastfeeding: The proportion of infants 0–5 months of age who received breast milk as the predominant source of nourishment (but which allows water and water-based drinks fruit juice, ritual fluids, oral rehydration solution, syrups or drops of vitamins).
(iv) Bottle-feeding: The proportion of infants 0–23 months of age who received any liquid (including breast milk) or semi-solid food from a bottle with nipple/teat.

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