Age of introduction of ten sentinel complementary foods as reported for 6 to 12 month old, low‐income infants in metropolitan, Quetzaltenango (Western Highlands), compared to Guatemala City and Santo Domingo Xenacoj (Central Highlands)

Background The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) during the first 6 mo of life. Evidence complied in earlier studies of CeSSIAM documented that mixed feeding often occurs earlier. Objective To compare the pattern of age of introduction of commonly consumed foods in the western highlands with what has been reported from the central highlands of Guatemala. Methods Age of introduction of 10 sentinel foods was queried by means of structured face‐to‐face interviews in 6 to 11 mo old infants living in 2 urban areas (Quetzaltenango, n=128 and Guatemala City, n=64) and 1 rural area (Santo Domingo Xenacoj, n=64). Results Items most frequently reported as introduced before 6 mo in Quetzaltenango were vegetables (28%), followed by fruits (27%), Incaparina® (23%), potatoes (20%), and sweet rolls (17%). These rates of premature introduction are higher than reported in a poor neighborhood in Guatemala City with a respective: fruits (18%); vegetables (17%); potatoes (14%); Incaparina® (13%); and rice (11%). The hierarchy in a Mayan village was: potatoes (15%); vegetables (13%); Incaparina® (13%); rice (12%); and oatmeal (11%). Conclusion Different patterns of early introduction of food and beverage items contribute to the precocious occurrence of mixed feeding in the first semester of infancy in distinct regions of Guatemala. Funded by the Nestlé Foundation, Switzerland