Abstract
Introduction: Introduction of semisolid food in an infant who is on liquid diet is known as complementary feeding. When breast milk is no longer enough to meet the nutritional needs of the infant, complementary feeding should be started. Methods: 500 mothers with children 6-24 months of age attending OPD in Mc Gann were interviewed. Data was collected using a self-administered, semi-structured questionnaire with the mothers regarding knowledge, attitude, and practices of complementary feeding Results: Knowledge, attitude and practices were assessed in 500 mothers. The mean age of complementary feeding was 8.24 ± 2.79 months. Only few had correct information from health personnel. 23% of mothers started complementary feeding at 6 months of age. 21.6% of mothers used commercial foods. Male child, illiterate mothers, low socio-economic group and rural mothers tend to wean late (p 0.05). 34.1%, 34.5% and 23.8% of children were under weight, stunted and wasted respectively. There was significant association between delayed complementary feeding and malnutrition of the child. Conclusion: There is lack of knowledge in mothers regarding complementary feeding, there has to be proper recommendation about timing of complementary feeding. Mean age of complementary feeding was delayed due to improper information, false beliefs and attitudes, illiteracy, low socio-economic status and rural mothers, thus leading to malnutrition of the child. Hence, mothers should be educated properly regarding complementary feeding, foods, preparation and practice to prevent malnutrition and improve the health status of the children.
Highlights
Introduction of semisolid food in an infant who is on liquid diet is known as complementary feeding
Mean age of knowledge regarding complementary feeding was 7.99 ± 2.48 months and range 4 –20 months. 44.6 % of mothers had the knowledge that complementary feeding should be started by 6 –7 months, 25.8 % by 8 – months, 21.2 % by –12 months, 1.4 % by > months and 0.6 % had no idea about complementary feeding
Attitude and reasons for complementary feeding were assessed in 500 mothers. 281/500 mothers did complementary feeding by self or previous experience, 183/500 mothers had information from family or friends, 152/500 mothers received information from health personnel
Summary
Introduction of semisolid food in an infant who is on liquid diet is known as complementary feeding. Mean age of complementary feeding was delayed due to improper information, false beliefs and attitudes, illiteracy, low socio-economic status and rural mothers, leading to malnutrition of the child. Mothers should be educated properly regarding complementary feeding, foods, preparation and practice to prevent malnutrition and improve the health status of the children. When breast milk is no longer enough to meet the nutritional needs of the infant, complementary feeding should be started. The transition from exclusive breast feeding to semisolid foods is a very vulnerable period because it is the time when malnutrition starts in many infants, contributing significantly to the high prevalence of malnutrition and infection in children under five years of age worldwide [2]. According to the WHO guidelines complementary feeding should be started at 6 months of age along with breast feeding up to 2 years or more [3]
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