NUTRITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, FEEDING PRACTICES AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN 0 – 24 MONTHS AMONG MOTHERS IN MUSHIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, LAGOS STATE

Cross-sectional study examining infant and young child feeding practices and nutritional status among children aged 0-24 months in Mushin LGA, Lagos State, Nigeria. The research explores the gap between maternal knowledge and feeding practices, documenting rates of exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and malnutrition prevalence using anthropometric measurements.  Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices and Nutritional Status in Mushin LGA, Lagos State: A Cross-Sectional Study This study assesses maternal breastfeeding and complementary feeding knowledge, feeding practices, and the nutritional status of children aged 0–24 months in Mushin LGA, Lagos State. Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, data were collected via structured interviews and anthropometric measurements. Despite high maternal knowledge, gaps in feeding practices were observed, contributing to notable levels of wasting and acute malnutrition. Findings highlight the need for strengthened community nutrition programs and improved maternal education. Keywords: Breastfeeding, Complementary Feeding, Malnutrition, MUAC, Infant Nutrition, Nigeria    Introduction Optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices during the first two years of life are essential for growth, cognitive development, immunity, and long-term health outcomes. In Nigeria, malnutrition remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five. Suboptimal breastfeeding, early or inappropriate complementary feeding, and poor maternal nutritional knowledge significantly contribute to this burden. Mushin LGA represents a dense, low-resource urban setting where feeding challenges are exacerbated by socioeconomic constraints. Understanding maternal knowledge, actual feeding behaviour, and child nutritional outcomes in this context is essential for designing targeted interventions.   Methods Study Design A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among mothers of children aged 0–24 months. Study Setting The study was carried out in Mushin Local Government Area, Lagos State, an urban low-income community with high population density and documented nutritional challenges. Study Population Mothers with children aged 0–24 months attending selected facilities within the LGA. Sampling and Recruitment Eligible mothers were selected using structured inclusion criteria. Four trained research assistants facilitated respondent recruitment. Data Collection Tools An interviewer-administered questionnaire assessed: - Maternal demographic characteristics - Breastfeeding knowledge - Complementary feeding knowledge - Feeding practices Anthropometric Measurements - Weight-for-length Z-score for all children - MUAC for children 6–24 months   Data Analysis Data were analysed using Epi Info version 7. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square/Fisher's exact tests were used. Significance was set at p<0.05.   Results Maternal Knowledge - Adequate breastfeeding knowledge: 96.7% - Adequate complementary feeding knowledge: 93.5% Feeding Practices - Exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months: 56.8% - Timely complementary feeding initiation: 67.6% - Decline in continued breastfeeding after 12 months Child Nutritional Status - Wasting by weight-for-length Z-score: 9.3%, all in 0–6 months - MUAC classification:   - At risk: 23.2%   - Moderate/severe acute malnutrition: 20.3% Significant Associations Factors associated with feeding practices or nutritional outcomes: - Maternal age, education, ethnicity - Timing of breastfeeding decision - Feeding knowledge (breastfeeding and complementary feeding) - Place of last delivery Discussion Maternal knowledge in this population is high, yet practice gaps persist. This disconnect suggests structural issues: inadequate counselling, sociocultural pressures, economic constraints, and limited postnatal feeding support. The presence of wasting in the youngest age group highlights poor early feeding initiation or breastfeeding technique challenges. MUAC findings reveal substantial acute malnutrition risk, emphasizing the need for early identification and community-level action. Conclusion Despite strong maternal knowledge, suboptimal feeding practices persist, contributing to high malnutrition levels. Strengthened community nutrition programs, targeted maternal education, and improved counselling are urgently needed. Recommendations 1. Scale community-based breastfeeding support groups. 2. Enhance maternal education during antenatal and postnatal visits. 3. Strengthen training for frontline health workers on IYCF counselling. 4. Introduce routine MUAC screening for infants in urban low-resource settings. 5. Develop targeted nutritional interventions for high-risk mothers.