A study on complementary feeding practices among mothers in urban and rural areas

Abstract

Background: Adequate nutrition during infancy and early childhood is essential to ensure the growth, health, and development of children to their full potential. Complementary feeding is a process starting when breast milk alone is no longer sufficient to meet the nutritional requirements of infants, and therefore other foods and liquids are needed, along with breast milk. The objective was to study complementary feeding practices and the various factors influencing them in urban and rural areas.Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted in Urban and Rural area of Mangalore Taluk. Data was collected by interview method among 408 mothers using a predesigned pretested questionnaire, information regarding demographic profile, socio-economic status, complementary feeding practices, etc was collected.Results: As many as 186 (45.3%) i.e., 129/186 (69.3%) mothers in the rural area and 57/186 (30.6%) mothers in urban area started complementary feeds at the age of 6 months. The most common food preferred as complementary food was combination of rice and dal together. The number of meals per day given to the child varied from 2-4/day. The number of snacks given per day to the child varied from 1-4 /day; commonly preferred snacks were Biscuits both in urban and rural areas Bottle feeding was practiced by 181 (44.4%) of the mothers, that included 113/181 (62.4%) from rural area and 68/181 (37.5%) from urban area.Conclusions: Poor complementary feeding practices were observed both in rural and urban areas. Family member’s advice, poor knowledge and influence of baby food marketing strategies have resulted in inappropriate practices.

Potential Barriers in Implementing Local-Food-Based Complementary Feeding Practice

“…The related study mentioned that important to raise awareness and knowledge in improving complementary feeding practices through media to reduce undernutrition 26 . Education campaigns concerning feeding practices should not only to mothers but also for family members who are decision-makers like a mother-inlaw or older adult in the family 27 .…”

Complimentary Food Practices in Rural Areas (6 Months to 1 Year)

“…Adults have little less requirements of nutrients than infants and children for their building growth. The proper amount of nutrients in infants & children promote and support their rapid rate of growth while adults need nutrients to maintain the function and constant body weight [4]. Weaning feeding stars from 6 months of age.It should be nutritionally adequate and safe ,nutrients need the feed should be appropriate, however there are same problem faced by the mother or family, when the child is on compile feeding it often leads to problem body composition, climate and environment.Prerna Singhal, Seema jain, S K Garg, Harivansh Chopra in a study done on 2015 in Bangladesh found that complementary feeding was introduced before 6 months in one third babies and the amount was inadequate in same number of children [4].…”

“…The proper amount of nutrients in infants & children promote and support their rapid rate of growth while adults need nutrients to maintain the function and constant body weight [4]. Weaning feeding stars from 6 months of age.It should be nutritionally adequate and safe ,nutrients need the feed should be appropriate, however there are same problem faced by the mother or family, when the child is on compile feeding it often leads to problem body composition, climate and environment.Prerna Singhal, Seema jain, S K Garg, Harivansh Chopra in a study done on 2015 in Bangladesh found that complementary feeding was introduced before 6 months in one third babies and the amount was inadequate in same number of children [4]. The no of meals per day varied from child to child .It is also dependent on the socio-economic status of the family .The study recorded 36.66% participants giving 3 meals a day followed by 33.33% giving 2 meals a day .Only 30% of participants gives 4 meals a day .This has been observed that no of meals were dependent on the affordability and availability [4].…”

“…The study included participants only from rural area with child's age between (6months to 1 year).The food measured was not of exact quantity and-hence can be subjected to bias. The nutritional requirement of different age and sex are formulated depending on anthropometry body composition climate & environment that is termed as recommended dietary allowances [4]. Adults have little less requirements of nutrients than infants and children for their building growth.…”

Practices of Complementary Feeding of Mothers Attending a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in the Northern Part of Bangladesh

“…Complementary foods must be nutritionally adequate, safe, and appropriately fed to meet the young child's energy and nutrient needs. 1 WHO recommends that, infants should receieve complementary foods at six months of age in addition to breast milk. It should be given initially 2-3 times a day between 6-8 months, increasing to 3-4 times daily between 9-11 months and 12-24 months, with additional nutritious snacks offered 1-2 times per day, as required.…”