Information and Practice Regarding Complementary Feeding Among Primiparous and Multiparous Mothers in Qaladiza City / Iraq

Abstract

Background: Adequate nutrition during infancy and early child hood and mother’s information and practice regarding complementary feeding are fundamentals for attaining child’s growth and development and optimum health. Complementary feeding is an additional food or drink containing nutrients, given to infants or children aged 6-23 months to meet nutritional needs other than breastmilk.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess and compare information and practice regarding complementary feeding among primiparous and multiparous mothers

Method: Cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among 100 mothers of child age 6-23 months in Qaladiza city in 2019. A questionnaire format was prepared to obtain necessary information with face to face technique. Data were entered and analyzed with the help of SPSS version 26.

Result: Among all of the mothers, 57% of them were multiparous. The highest age group was 26-30 by 39%. Additionally, the highest percentage of mothers 36% were at the highest education level (graduated). There were no significant association between sociodemographic characteristics with mother’s level of information and practice. Overall, 50% and 45% of the mothers were at moderate and high level of information respectively, whereas 62% and 10% of them were at moderate and high level of practice regarding complementary feeding correspondingly. Compared to 36.8% of multiparous mothers, 55.8% of primiparous mothers were at high level of information. Regarding complementary feeding practice only 2.3% of primiparous mothers were at high level compared to 15.8% of multiparous mothers. There were no statistical significant differences between them.

Conclusion: In this study, it was attained that there was an acceptable level of information and low level of practice regarding complementary feeding among participated mothers. In addition to that, primiparous mother’s level of information was higher with a lower level of practice compared to multiparous mothers.