Feeding patterns before 6 months of age: the relative validity of recall from interviews of mothers of Guatemalan infants and toddlers.

Abstract

The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 mo of life; however, deviations from this recommendation are widespread. The objective of the current study was to evaluate exclusive and predominant breastfeeding rates, as defined by the WHO, in a cross-sectional sample of Guatemalan children using retrospective records on the temporal pattern of introducing foods and beverages before 6 mo. Mothers of 150 infants, aged 6 to 23 mo, attending a public health clinic were interviewed about early life feeding practices with a structured questionnaire. In addition, the plausibility of the reported offering of liquids and foods, other than breast milk, since birth was checked against reported current feeding practices. We observed that estimated exclusive breastfeeding was rare with 14% of infants receiving exclusive breastfeeding for 5 mo, and only 9% for the recommended 6 mo. The proportion of infants with predominant breastfeeding, which allows certain liquids such as water, juices and ritual fluids, was 33% through 5 mo and 23% through 6 mo. One-quarter of mothers (n=38) reported implausible answers concerning age-of-introduction of liquids and foods. Nevertheless, retrospective reports at up to 2 y give credible outcomes for estimations of feeding pattern at 6 mo of age. Our findings match the findings of other studies conducted in Guatemala. Overall adherence to the WHO guidelines for feeding in the first semester of infancy was much less than ideal and in need of strengthening.