The study investigated the effect of maternal employment on breastfeeding and child care practices
of mothers in Southwestern Nigeria. Information was collected on maternal socio economic
characteristics, care and feeding practices of 450 mothers selected by multi stage random sampling
procedure from both urban and rural communities. Results revealed that 46.9% mothers
spent more than 8 hours at work, 62.7% worked outside their homes and 73.1% spent about 17 -
24 hours with their children per day. Children received prelacteal feeds such as water (61.1%),
concoction (34%), glucose (32%) and infant formula (54.7%). Mean number of breastfeeding per
day was 9.7 ± 3.9; only 24% were exclusively breastfed, 37.3% introduced complementary foods
at 6 months and 68.6% terminated breastfeeding between 13 - 18 months. Mothers that were engaged
in work outside their home in offices and factories practiced exclusive breastfeeding. Mothers
below 30 years of age used prelacteal feeds, did not practice exclusive breastfeeding (58.3%),
terminated breastfeeding earlier and combined the use of feeding bottles, plates and cups for
feeding (50.3%) when compared with mothers between 40 - 50 years. Mothers in the rural areas
used water as prelacteal feeds (85.3%) mothers in urban communities used infant formula (65.4%).
A significant association was found between maternal places of employment. It is strongly associated
with the timing of introduction of complementary foods (p < 0.02) and the number of snack
consumed/day (p < 0.03). Conclusively, maternal place of work positively influences the adoption
of appropriate infant feeding practice. Working mothers should receive more support in the work
place for them to practice appropriate feeding practices.