Weaning practices of children in Mosul Cross —Sectional Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background : The transition from breast feeding exclusively to use of family foods completely is very vulnerable period of the time when many infants become malnourished, contributing significantly to the high prevalence of malnutrition in children under 5 years of age worldwide. Aim: This study aims to assess the local weaning practices of a group of children in Mosul &if s association with socio-demographic factors &nutritional status of children -Patients& Method: To achieve the aim of the present study a cross-sectional design was adopted. The unit of present study was a mother who came to the primary health centers for routine vaccination of any of her children. The chosen mothers were included by systemic sampling technique in which every third mother had been taken. All children of the selected mother who were 2-24 months of age were included in the interview, through visiting the primary health centers in Mosul four time per week . Results: Complementary food introduction was done before 4 months of age 26%&ortly 15.3%were weaned after 7months of age' Weaning practices were categorized into bad, moderate &good level according self-administrated scores for each recommended practices for infant feeding& weaning. Accordingly the present study show that about 65% of the sample were using bad &moderate levels of practices& the rest had good level. This study revealed that low maternal education & high parity having 4 children or more & low socioeconomic state of family associated with using bad practices (C.1= 3.27-12.23;P<0.001), while employment of mothers associated with using good weaning practices(C.1.27-0.78;P<0.01. Conclusions: Complementary food introduction was done before 4 months of age 26%&only 15.3%were weaned after 7months of age &19.6% of infants were exclusively breast fed. The study show that early weaning <4 month was associated with diarrhea, otitis media & food allergy, but had no relation with underweight while, weaning after 7 months of age significantly associated with underweight.