www.ejpmr.com 185 Emmanuel et al. European Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING PRACTICES AND NUTRITIONAL VALUES OF COMPLEMENTARY FOODS USED BY IGBO MOTHERS OF IMO AND ABIA STATES OF NIGERIA 1 Okereke Ijeoma .F, 2 Obeagu, Emmanuel Ifeanyi*, 3 A.O.Ovute, Odo,Christian Emeka 4 , Kanu, Stella Ngozika 5 , Utah I. Chioma. 1 , Okpara Kingsley Ezechukwu 6 , Obeagu Getrude Uzoma 7 1 Department of Nutrition and Dietics, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria. 2 Diagnostic Laboratory Unit, University Health Services, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria. 3 Department of Industrial Technology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria. 4 Department of Biochemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike,Abia State, Nigeria. 5 Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, Abia State, Nigeria. 6 School of Health Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. 7 School of Nursing Science, ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu, Nigeria. Article Received on 01/01/2015 Article Revised on 26/01/2015 Article Accepted on 19/01/2015 INTRODUCTION Weaning foods also known as complementary foods can be produced from available local ingredients. They are made out of legumes, grains example com, millets, soyabeans, groundnuts, fruits, vegetables etc. The term "Complementary" is derived from complement. According to Kornby (1981) (Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary), it means; "Something added later to improve or complete".It means, an infant becoming gradually accustomed to solids. This is gradually introduced to the infants from six months ideally after exclusive breastfeeding. At this age, babies can push food given by spoon to the back of their mouth, ready for swallowing (Eboh, 1992). Complementary feeding from a physiological point of view, is a complex process involving nutritional, microbial, immunological, biochemical and physiological adjustments. Research Article ISSN 3294-3211 EJPMR EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND MEDICAL RESEARCH www.ejpmr.com ejpmr, 2015,2(2), 185-208 *Correspondence for Author Obeagu,Emmanuel Ifeanyi Diagnostic Laboratory Unit, University Health Services, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture,Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria. Phone: +2348037369912 emmanulobeagu@yahoo.com obeagu.emmanuel@mouau.edu.ng