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Reported changes in feeding practices during and after illnesses in 6 to 23 month old children receiving continued breastfeeding in the Western Highlands of Guatemala
Author(s) -
Vossenaar Marieke,
Garcia Rosario,
Doak Colleen M,
Solomons Noel W
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.1028.5
Subject(s) - breastfeeding , medicine , environmental health , public health , culturally appropriate , pediatrics , family medicine , nursing
Background The WHO recommends that fluid intake be increased during illness and that foods be offered more often after illness. Objective To describe feeding practices during and after illness in a sample of young Guatemalan children aged 6–23 mo. Methods Mothers of 300 young children attending two public health centers in the Western Highlands of Guatemala were interviewed regarding past feeding practices with a structured questionnaire. Results 238 mothers (79%) reported offering the young child additional liquids when ill; the most commonly reported liquids were water (offered by 41% of mothers), ritual fluids (28%), oral rehydration solutions (17%) and breastmilk (7%). 85 mothers (28%) offered different foods during illness. 132 mothers (44%) reported withholding certain foods, whereas some foods were specifically offered during child illness by 88 mothers (29%). Most commonly avoided foods were beans, eggs, fatty‐foods and other items culturally believed to be “cooling” to the body (“cold foods”), as well as coffee. Most commonly promoted foods were soups, broths, ritual fluids, foods low in fat and breastmilk. Only 99 mothers (33%) reported offering the child more foods in convalescence. Conclusion A substantial proportion of mothers appropriately adapt feeding practices surrounding child illness in accordance with WHO guidance. Funded by Sight and Life, Switzerland