Young Children Feeding Practices: An Update from the Sultanate of Oman

Maamari, Salima Al; Shammakhi, Saleh Al; Alghamari, Ibtisam; Jabbour, Jana; Al-Jawaldeh, Ayoub

doi:10.3390/children8090818

Cited by 3 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Although this could be positive progress, it falls short of the 70% goal ( 8 ). Between conception and the child's second birthday, the first 1,000 days of life offer a golden chance for nutrition and lifestyle changes to shape the child's growth ( 9 ). Throughout this phase, optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices are crucial for supporting fetal growth and development, maternal health, newborn and toddler growth ( 10 ), and for preventing a child's malnutrition and the development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) ( 11 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feeding Patterns, Mother-Child Dietary Diversity and Prevalence of Malnutrition Among Under-Five Children in Lebanon: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on Retrospective Recall

2022

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BackgroundDespite demonstrated benefits, most countries fall short of meeting international targets for breastfeeding patterns, optimal complementary feeding, mother-children's quality diet, and malnutrition among under-five children.RationaleSince mothers usually play the most vital role in the healthcare of their children, research is needed to illuminate maternal factors that might promote a child's health and nutritional status.AimThe purpose of this study is to retrospectively (1) examine the under-five children's (0–59 months) feeding habits including exclusive breastfeeding, exclusive bottle feeding, continued breastfeeding, and complementary feedings, (2) investigate the mother-child's dietary diversity, and (3) identify any factors that cause less optimal nutrition due to a lack of food diversity in children aged 6 to 59 months. Moreover, (4) the prevalence of wasting, stunting, underweight, and overweight in the under-five offspring living in households located in the main two provinces in Lebanon (Beirut and Mount Lebanon) was determined.MethodsThe data for this analysis were collected from a representative sample of 384 households [384 mothers (21–49 years old) and children (0–59 months)] between February 2019 and June 2019. A questionnaire was used to inquire mothers of children ages 0–23 months about exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), continuous breastfeeding (CBF), exclusive bottle feeding (EBOT), mixed feeding (MF), and complementary feeding patterns. Moreover, additional questions regarding dietary diversity were asked to mothers of children aged 6 to 59 months. This score was calculated based on the 24 h recall of the mother and her child's consumption of 7 food groups, during the 24 h prior to the survey. Moreover, stunting, wasting, overweight, and underweight were calculated using the z-score for height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-height (WHZ), and weight-for-age (WAZ), respectively. Binary logistic regression was used to explore the dietary diversity among children (ages 6–59 months) adjusting for covariates at maternal and household levels.ResultsAround 44% of children (0–59 months) had normal body weight. In addition, 9.3% were underweight (WAZ < -2SD to −3SD), 6.5% were at risk of being overweight, 24.45% were overweight, 9.3% were stunted (HAZ < -2SD to −3SD), and 6.25% (WHZ < -2SD to −3SD) were wasted. In total, among under-five children, the prevalence of EBF at 40 d and 6 months was 27 and 30%, respectively. The prevalence of CBF was 23%. Around 60% of mothers breastfed their offspring between 0 and 6 months and half of them introduced infant formula at earlier stages between 0–6 months. Furthermore, 78.4% of mothers introduced food to their children between 4 and 6 months (of which 40% before 6 months) and 62.5% of them introduced sugary drinks before 6 months. As for dietary diversity (DD), one out of two mothers and one out of three children (ages 6–59 months) had a low DD score (DDS) (46 and 32%, respectively). The children's and mother's DD were strongly found to be correlated (p-value = 0.034). Regression analysis showed that children's DD increased around 2 times [AOR = 1.7; 95% CI (1.042–2.914)] in context of high maternal DDS, and about 12 times [AOR = 11.7; 95% CI (1.2–111)] when a member of the highest-income households.ConclusionsOur findings demonstrated low rates of EBF and CBF, high prevalence of EBOT, and early introduction of complementary foods among children ages 0–59 months. Furthermore, for children ages 6–59 months, there was poor mother-child dietary diversity and a high prevalence of overweight and stunted children in the main two Lebanese provinces. This suggests the alarming need for continuous nutrition intervention to improve infant feeding patterns and dietary diversity to reduce the malnutrition rates.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feeding Patterns, Mother-Child Dietary Diversity and Prevalence of Malnutrition Among Under-Five Children in Lebanon: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on Retrospective Recall

2022

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“…The lowest rates were seen for Kuwait (12%) [ 60 ], Saudi Arabia (11.1%) [ 80 ] and United Arab Emirates (1%) [ 16 ]. However, the highest rates were reported from Afghanistan (73.8%) [ 37 ], Iran (70.5%) [ 47 , 50 ], Sudan (68.2%) [ 37 , 85 , 86 , 87 ], Pakistan (65.1%) [ 23 , 37 , 72 , 73 , 74 ] and Oman (64.1%) [ 29 , 70 , 71 ]. The prevalence of continued breastfeeding decreased the most at 2 years of age.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The prevalence of continued breastfeeding decreased the most at 2 years of age. This trend applies to Lebanon (at 1 year: 34.7%, at 2 years: 10.6%) [ 64 ], Jordan (at 1 year: 36.2%, at 2 years: 14.9%) [ 57 ], Egypt (at 1 year: 80%, at 2 years: 20.4%) [ 42 ], Iran (at 1 year: 84.2%, at 2 years: 51%) [ 47 ], Iraq (at 1 year: 44.8%, at 2 years: 26.7%) [ 52 ], Kuwait (at 1 year: 22%, at 26 months: 2%) [ 60 ], Morocco (at 1 year: 64.9%, at 2 years: 29.7%) [ 69 ], Oman (at 1 year: 79%, at 2 years: 51%) [ 70 ], Pakistan (at 1 year: 68.4%, at 2 years: 56.5%) [ 74 ], Palestine (at 1 year: 52.9%, at 2 years: 11.5%) [ 75 ], Qatar (at 1 year: 65%, at 2 years: 31.9%) [ 79 ], Somalia (at 1 year: 60.8%, at 2 years: 26.8%) [ 84 ], Sudan (at 1 year: 89.4%, at 2 years: 48.8%) [ 87 ], Syrian Arab Republic (at 1 year: 55.8%, at 2 years: 24.9%) [ 88 ], Tunisia (at 1 year: 45.4%, at 2 years: 18.2%) [ 89 ] and Yemen (at 1 year: 71.2%, at 2 years: 45.3%) [ 91 ] ( Table S1 ). No data were reported on the prevalence of continued breastfeeding in Bahrain, Djibouti and Libya.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Breastfeeding Practices, Infant Formula Use, Complementary Feeding and Childhood Malnutrition: An Updated Overview of the Eastern Mediterranean Landscape

et al. 2022

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Background: With increasing global rates of overweight, obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) along with undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) is no exception. This review focuses on specific nutrition parameters among under five years children, namely ever breastfed, exclusive breastfeeding, mixed milk feeding, continued breastfeeding, bottle feeding, introduction of solid, semi-solid, or soft foods and malnutrition. Methodology: PubMed, Google Scholar, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) databases, World Health Organization (WHO) databases, the World Bank databases and the Global Nutrition Report databases were explored between 10 January and 6 June 2022, to review the nutrition situation among under five years children in the EMR. Results: The regional average prevalence of ever breastfed, exclusive breastfeeding, mixed milk feeding, continued breastfeeding, bottle feeding, introduction of solid, semi-solid, or soft foods was estimated at 84.3%, 30.9%, 42.9%, 41.5%, 32.1% and 69.3%, respectively. Iran, Iraq, Libya and Palestine have seen a decline over time in the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding. Lebanon, Egypt, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia reported early introduction of infant formula. Moreover, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates were seen to introduce food early to the child, at between 4–6 months of age. The estimated weighted regional averages for stunting, wasting and underweight were 20.3%, 8.9% and 13.1%, respectively. Of concern is the increasing prevalence of stunting in Libya. As for overweight and obesity, the average prevalence was reported to be 8.9% and 3%, respectively. Lebanon, Libya, Kuwait and Palestine showed an increased trend throughout this time. Conclusions: In this review, the suboptimal infant and young child feeding patterns and the twofold incidence of malnutrition in the EMR are highlighted and we urge the prioritizing of measures to improve children’s nutrition.

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“…In a population-based survey conducted in the United Arab Emirates, 26% of infants had exclusive breastfeeding in the rst six months and 19% started complementary feeding before the age of six months [16]. Data from the Oman National Nutrition Survey (ONNS) conducted in 2017 indicated that less than a third of the mothers (29%) were exclusively breastfeeding their infants in the rst six months of age [17]. Complementary food including juice, yogurt, soup and porridge were introduced to infants younger than six months with percentages ranging from 6-13% [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development and Pilot Testing of a Comprehensive and Culturally-sensitive Infant Feeding Structured Questionnaire: A Cross-sectional Design

Yazeedi,

Omari

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Background: Infant feeding tools available in the literature lack comprehensiveness and inclusiveness to infants of different ages. This study aimed to pilot test a newly developed infant feeding structured questionnaire. Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional design. The structured questionnaire developed had two main sections; the first section included questions relative to sociodemographic characteristics, birth and clinical history, and infant food history in the first year. The second section incorporated a 22-item design to stipulate a comprehensive description of infant feeding practices (IFP) and Infant Feeding Beliefs (IFB). A convenient sampling technique was used to collect data from six health centers located in Muscat and Al-Sharqia North. The infant feeding practices and beliefs variables were dichotomized to either meeting the recommendations (1) or not meeting the recommendations (0), based on the WHO guidelines Results: The data analysis encompassed a cohort of 203 participants. Most mothers aged between 26 and 35 years (58.6%). Among the mothers, 67% practiced exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months, 89.2% were breastfeeding in the first year, and 44.9% initiated infant formula feeding at six months of age or later. Moreover, 64% of the mothers introduced solid food (e.g., rice, vegetables, fruits) at six months, while (87.2%) started feeding meat, chicken, or fish at six months. For feeding egg white, fresh milk, and bee honey, 43.4%, 84.7%, and 78.4%, respectively, met the recommendation of waiting until the child ages 12 months. The mean IFP score was 8.09 (SD 1.75), while the mean IFB score was slightly higher (m=8.90, SD= 1.45). The Pearson correlation analysis signified a positive relationship between IFP and IFB (r=0.53, p<0.001). Mothers who received infant feeding counseling had higher IFP scores compared to the mothers who did not. Additionally, mothers with at least a baccalaureate degree and a family income of at least 1000 OMR had better IFB recommendation scores (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Data generated from the newly developed infant feeding practices and beliefs questionnaire shall assist in determining the risks associated with multiple nutrition-related morbidities in children, thus promising a valid and feasible mean for a comprehensive infant feeding assessment.

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Young Children Feeding Practices: An Update from the Sultanate of Oman

Cited by 3 publications

References 25 publications

Feeding Patterns, Mother-Child Dietary Diversity and Prevalence of Malnutrition Among Under-Five Children in Lebanon: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on Retrospective Recall

Feeding Patterns, Mother-Child Dietary Diversity and Prevalence of Malnutrition Among Under-Five Children in Lebanon: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on Retrospective Recall

Breastfeeding Practices, Infant Formula Use, Complementary Feeding and Childhood Malnutrition: An Updated Overview of the Eastern Mediterranean Landscape

Development and Pilot Testing of a Comprehensive and Culturally-sensitive Infant Feeding Structured Questionnaire: A Cross-sectional Design

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