Table 2 Focus groups discussion concerning a healthy diet, exclusive breastfeeding
Focus group 1 | Focus group 2 | Focus group 3 | Focus group 4 | Interpretation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exclusive breastfeeding | - One mother did it. But it was difficult because of environment. Most of mothers give water or porridge to children and old women don’t allow young to do it. - Nurses taught them about it but they think baby is thirsty and need water even the same day of birth. - To do it you need to be strong in your mind and must have milk in your breast. | - What we eat is found in our milk, so the breastfeeding is good. All we breastfeed at least until 18 months. - I heard that milk contains lot of water for example 10ℓ of milk contains 9ℓ of water and 1ℓ of vitamins so if you give water to the child, he will not have many vitamins - Milk alone is not enough for the child, so I give him water. - When we go to the hospital, we received advice, but we all give water to children. They are thirsty and cry to ask for it. If you are with your grandmother, she will say to give it. - Some of mothers give up at 18 months others 24 months, depend on each mother’s feelings | - Breastfeeding is essential. Milk is for child. - Give up at 18 months or 2 and a half years. - My first child had drunk formula because I had a problem with my breast but the second one drank my milk. - No exclusive breastfeeding because child is thirsty, he needs water. It’s hot it’s not easy for an adult what to say about child who cannot tell you if he is not fine. He cries and we give water. - They said breastfeeding exclusively is good but needs of the child are different. - Give water at 3 months. - For myself I wanted to give her milk alone, but his grandmother gave him. When I refused, she took him herself to give it to him. She did it the same day at her birth. Heat water to sterilise it and give it. | - Breast milk is good for children. It develops strength and intellect. They take up to 2 years. It’s just knowledge. Doctors have taught us to give milk to children without water until 6 months. - Milk make children thirsty so we give water. - Breastfed exclusively up to 6 months after I make him imported porridge flour. But this child refuses porridge he prefers dough, rice. - Not exclusively breastfed my child. Weaning at 9 months with maize roasted flour. | Most participants seem to have breastfed their children for up to 18 months. Most said they gave water to the child before 6 months, thus not truly exclusive breastfeeding. Environment, time and misconceptions, and beliefs are limits for exclusive breastfeeding practice. |
Healthy diet | - See by the physical health of the individual - Eating spaghetti, maize paste, fresh fish sauce, vegetables, egoussi sauce (squash seeds) - Food consumed quality - When you are fine, you eat well - Cook food rich in nutrients | - Maize foods, rice, cowpea, egg, peanut - Maize stiff porridge has lots of vitamins. We eat at least once a day. - Eating food that make us feeling good. | - Eating paste and bitter leaves sauce, palm nut sauce, wild basil sauce, gari - What you eat, and you feel good that is eating well - A food that you prepare carefully, eat and that’s give you nutrients and good health. Those nutrients your child receives through the breastmilk is a good diet. | - Eat good food. Cowpea, potato, moringa it is good for children’s health | Starch and legumes were cited by most groups as part of a healthy diet. The feeling of eating food you appreciate and that one assumes nutritious form part of a healthy diet. |