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Child feeding practices among Mexican mothers from rural communities and WHO guiding principles
Author(s) -
Lozada Ana Lilia,
Fernández-Gaxiola Ana Cecilia,
García-Guerra Armando,
Neufeld Lynnette
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.814.3
Subject(s) - malnutrition , medicine , environmental health , anemia , population , pediatrics , breastfeeding , breast feeding , pathology
Poor compliance with complementary feeding practices (CPF) has been reported previously in Mexico, but surveys have not included information on all WHO feeding recommendations. Mothers of infants <2 years old (n = 5219) were surveyed as part of the external evaluation of the Oportunidades program. CPF were assessed by questionnaire designed to solicit information in relation to the WHO guiding principles. The prevalence of malnutrition was high in the population. 61.7% infants were breastfed until 2 y of age, but the average age of introduction of foods was very young. 74.1% used fortified complementary foods, but only half of the children were receiving an adequate amount of complementary food. Only 28% of women used feeding practices considered being sensitive and responsive and 11.2% used appropriate food storage and preparation methods. Younger mothers and beneficiaries of Oportunidades are more likely to comply (p<0.05) better than the other mothers. Inadequate feeding practices were positively associated with stunting and anemia. Poor compliance with WHO recommendations is associated with poor nutritional status.