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Association between complementary feeding practice and mothers education status in Islamabad
Author(s) -
Liaqat P.,
Rizvi M. A.,
Qayyum A.,
Ahmed H.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of human nutrition and dietetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.951
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1365-277X
pISSN - 0952-3871
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-277x.2007.00791.x
Subject(s) - medicine , malnutrition , outpatient clinic , family medicine , pediatrics , socioeconomic status , government (linguistics) , environmental health , population , linguistics , philosophy
Objectives To examine the association between mothers education, complementary feeding practices and malnutrition amongst mothers attending outpatient clinics in Islamabad. Methods Mothers of 500 Pakistani infants attending the Paediatric Outpatient department at the Federal Government Services Hospital, Islamabad completed pretested questionnaires on mother's educational status and complementary feeding practices. Results A positive relationship was found between the nutritional status of infants and educational status of mothers ( P < 0.001). The study revealed that the majority of infants with evidence of malnutrition belonged to the mothers with virtually no school education. A similar relationship was observed between the educational status of respondents and the introduction of complementary foods at an appropriate age (6 months) of infants ( P < 0.001). Conclusion Mother's education plays a vital role in increased receptivity to knowledge and awareness related to nutritional requirements of their infants.