Association between complementary feeding practice and mothers education status in Islamabad.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the association between mother's 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.