Maternal Dietary Intake and Presence of Colic Symptoms among Exclusively Breastfed Infants in Selected Healthcare Facilities in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Infantile colic, defined as inconsolable crying exceeding three hours per day, more than three days per week, for at least three weeks, remains a major concern in neonatal and infant care. Maternal dietary intake during exclusive breastfeeding has been implicated as a potential modifying factor. This study examined the association between maternal dietary intake and the occurrence of infantile colic symptoms among exclusively breastfed infants in selected primary healthcare facilities in Akure South Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted. Using simple random sampling, 351 nursing mothers of infants aged 0–24 months attending selected healthcare facilities were recruited. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were employed.
Results: The majority of mothers demonstrated good dietary practices (52.4%), with high consumption of fruits (38.5% consumed 3–4 times/week), vegetables (43.6%), fish (42.7% at 5–7 times/week), meat/poultry (48.1% at 5–7 times/week), and processed/fast foods (58.7% at 5–7 times/week). The prevalence of infantile colic was 22.8%. Antibiotics were the predominant management strategy (80.1%). Chi-square analysis revealed no statistically significant relationship between maternal dietary intake and infantile colic (X²=1.65, df=2, p=0.43).
Conclusion: Although overall maternal dietary quality was good, the high prevalence of infantile colic (22.8%) and predominant use of over-the-counter antibiotics as a management strategy underscores the urgent need for targeted health education and nutritional counselling among breastfeeding mothers in Nigerian primary healthcare settings.