Open AccessInfant-feeding practices in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
Author(s) -
N. A. Osman,
F. F. El Sabban
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
eastern mediterranean health journal/eastern mediterranean health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.442
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1687-1634
pISSN - 1020-3397
DOI - 10.26719/1999.5.1.103
Subject(s) - infant feeding , medicine , nationality , inclusion (mineral) , breast feeding , breast milk , breastfeeding , primary health care , iron status , pediatrics , demography , environmental health , family medicine , geography , psychology , iron deficiency , population , immigration , social psychology , biochemistry , chemistry , archaeology , sociology , anemia
A survey was conducted to study the practices of infant-feeding and the influencing factors in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates. It involved 375 mothers of different nationalities and backgrounds and 300 healthy infants. The mothers were interviewed at four primary health care clinics in Al-Ain. Results showed that 46% of infants were breastfed for 4-6 months. The mother’s nationality and her educational status were significant influences on the mother’s decision to exclusively breast-feed the infant, for how long and when to introduce supplementary food. Fresh cow and goat milk were the most common supplements. Inclusion of baby formula as a supplement generally occurred early, perhaps because of advertising and the affluence in Al-Ain