Summary

Under nutrition in the under 5’s isassociated with significant morbidity andmortality and results in long term physicaland neurodevelopmental problems inadulthood. Although, the worldwide trendsin the prevalence of under nutrition in theunder 5’s show reductions in a numberof outcome measures of under nutritionincluding stunting, underweight andwasting, many countries in sub-SaharanAfrica continue to bear the burden ofthis problem.Growth faltering between 3months and 2 years of age also persistsunabated. In order to achieve optimalgrowth in children, the World HealthOrganisation (WHO) recommends thatinfants under 6 months of age should beexclusively breastfed, with the introductionof safe and nutritious complementary feedsat 6 months, whilst continuing with breastfeeding until the child is 2 years of age.The literature has shown that inadequatebreast feeding practices are one of themajor contributors of under nutritionin the under 5’s worldwide