Breastfeeding and weaning in a village in the Niger Inland Delta, Mali

• The aim of the study was to investigate the breastfeeding and weaning customs and their influence on the survival of infants in the village of Niafunké, Mali. A questionnaire with 22 questions was put to 30 mothers, 15 traditional birth attendants, and 5 midwives. All the mothers used colostrum. However, before breastfeeding was initiated the children were given date juice, which constitutes a considerable infection risk. Weaning was started at the age of 6 to 9 months. The breastfeeding and weaning customs are largely satisfying; nevertheless, the child mortality before the age of 5 years was extremely high, at 56 children out of 131 born. The majority of these, 40, died during their first year of life. The infant mortality showed two periods of greatly elevated death rate: right after birth and during the period of weaning. The mortality after birth may depend on the lack of educated midwives as well as infections caused by water being given with the breast milk. The mortality at weaning obviously depends on poor hygienic conditions, possibly combined with a documented insufficient zinc intake weakening the immune system. Abrupt weaning practised when a new pregnancy is experienced is also a contributing factor. The breastfeeding may be interrupted over a single day, causing both physical and mental stress for the child. The mothers' information about breastfeeding and weaning comes from a number of sources: the parents, the traditional birth attendants, religious authorities, and the radio, which seems to have a good reach into the society.

Keyword

breast-feeding

weaning

chlld mortalty

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)