Place de l’Allaitement dans l’Alimentation du Nourrisson à Libreville : Enquête auprès de 501 Mères

RESUME Introduction. Les bienfaits de l'allaitement sont averes. Aussi est-il recommande d’allaiter exclusivement les nourrissons jusqu’a l’âge de 6 mois. L’objectif de ce travail etait d’evaluer l’etat actuel des connaissances et pratiques des meres sur l'allaitement a Libreville. Methodologie. Il s’est agi d’une etude descriptive et prospective, conduite du 2 mai au 30 septembre 2016 a Libreville. L’outil de collecte des donnees a ete un questionnaire pre etabli. Les variables etudiees concernaient les caracteristiques sociodemographiques, les connaissances, les pratiques des meres et l’âge des nourrissons. Resultats. Cinq cent une meres ont ete interrogees. Leur âge median etait de 26 ans. Trois cent vingt-neuf meres (65,7%) etaient multipares. Trois cent quarante-deux meres (68,3%) avaient un niveau d’etude secondaire.  L’âge moyen des enfants etait de 4 mois. Quatre cent trente-huit nourrissons (87,4%) etaient âges de 0 a 6 mois, 411 (93,8%) etaient allaites. Dix nourrissons âges de 6 mois (15,9%) etaient allaites exclusivement. Il y avait une relation significative entre la pratique de l’allaitement exclusif et la parite (p=0,016) et la pratique de l’allaitement exclusif et le niveau d’etudes (p= 0,04). Conclusion. A l’issue de notre etude, nous constatons que la frequence de l’allaitement exclusif jusqu’a 6 mois est de 15,9%. Il est necessaire de reprendre les formations en alimentation du nourrisson, de renforcer le personnel des services de sante maternelle et infantile. La sensibilisation de la communaute a l’importance de l’allaitement est egalement necessaire. ABSTRACT Background. The benefits of breastfeeding are proven. It is therefore recommended to exclusively breastfeed infants up to the age of 6 months. The objective of this work was to assess the current state of mothers' knowledge and practices on breastfeeding in Libreville. Methodology. It was a transversal descriptive and prospective study, conducted from May 2 to September 30, 2016 in Libreville. The data collection tool was a pre-established questionnaire. The variables studied concerned socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, practices of mothers and age of infants. Results. Five hundred and one mothers were interviewed. Their median age was 26 years. Three hundred and twenty-nine mothers (65.7%) were multiparous. Three hundred and forty-two mothers (68.3%) had a high school education. The average age of the children was 4 months. Four hundred and thirty-eight infants (87.4%) were 0 to 6 months old, 411 (93.8%) were breastfed. Ten infants 6 months of age (15.9%) were exclusively breastfed. There was a significant relationship between the practice of exclusive breastfeeding and parity (p = 0.016) and the practice of exclusive breastfeeding and education (p = 0.04). Conclusion. At the end of our study, we find that the frequency of exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months is 15.9%. It is necessary to resume training in infant feeding, to reinforce the personnel of maternal and child health services. Community awareness of the importance of breastfeeding is also necessary.