A survey of feeding practice in infants between 6 and 12 month of age among the PHC visitors in kerbala governorate in 2018

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) has stressed that adequate nutrition is essential for the children development and health. These international policies stress exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life to decrease neonatal mortality, strengthening early initiation of breastfeeding within first hour after birth.

Complementary feeding (CF) are usually started at six months when, the micronutrient deficiencies, infectious illnesses in developing countries and growth faltering. For this reason, in this vulnerable period; an effective interventions in a high priority should be done to reduce malnutrition. This study aimed to find the prevalence of breastfeeding in infants between 6 and 12 month of age, the age of initiating the complementary feeding and the main problems related to complementary feeding.

Subjects and methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted between 1^st January and 31^st Augusts 2018, among visitors of primary health care centers in Kerbala city in Iraq. The mothers were interviewed through closed and open questions to determine the type of feeding practice in infants and main related problems.

Results: The result shows a significant statistical relation between the occupation of the mother and the father, the type of delivery, the mother educational level and age, and the income with the type of feeding (breast, bottle, or mixed) and the complementary feeding.Conclusions: breastfeeding is the corner stone for good health and proper way for achieving the best mental and physical children's development, and the right time to start with the complementary feeding at the age of 6 months also play a major role children's well-being.