NUTRITIONAL STATUS ASSESSMENT AMONG INFANTS UNDER SIX MONTHS EXCLUSIVELY BREASTFED AND NON-EXCLUSIVELY BREASTFED IN OGBOMOSO, OYO STATE.

Exclusive Breastfeeding in the first six months of life is recognized as indispensable component of survival, physical and mental development of children. Despite the enormous benefits of Exclusive Breastfeeding only 39%of infants less than six months of age are exclusively breastfed globally .This study aims to assess the Nutritional status of infants, aged 0-6 Months (Exclusively breastfed and non-exclusively breastfed) was conducted at BOWEN University Teaching Hospital and Ibrahim Taiwo Primary Health Care Center, Oyo State, Nigeria. The study is a cross sectional comparative study carried out with the aid of questionnaires and anthropometric measurements of infants to compare the nutritional status of Infants that are exclusively breastfed and non-exclusively breastfed. The participants were recruited by simple random sampling. Data was analysed using SPSS. Majority of the participants were in the age range of 21-30 years. Their main source of information on breastfeeding was from healthcare professionals. Most of the participants breastfed their babies but not all of the mothers practiced exclusive breastfeeding.82.66%mothers practiced EBF at PHC and 24.62% practiced EBF at BUTH.86.6%intiated breastfeeding immediately after birth at PHC and 53.85%intiated breastfeeding immediately after birth at BUTH. The result also shows that there is association between exclusive breastfeeding and nutritional status of infants. Findings from this study shows that most of the participants have good knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding and more advocacy and education must be intensified to achieve WHO recommended target if 90% nursing mothers practice EBF.