Bimpong Kingsley Appiah, Cheyuo Ernest Kaa-Emabong, Abdul-Mumin Alhassan, Ayanore Martin A, Kubuga Clement K, Mogre Victor
Department of Community Health and Family Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, P. O. Box TL 1883, Tamale, Ghana.
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, P. O. Box TL 1883, Tamale, Ghana.
BMC Nutr. 2020 Dec 1;6(1):67. doi: 10.1186/s40795-020-00393-0.
Complementary feeding is critical for optimal nutrition in infants and young children as it ensures their growth, health and development to attain their full potential. However, evidence shows that children from developing countries do not meet the core indicators for appropriate complementary feeding. We evaluated mothers' knowledge and attitudes regarding child feeding recommendations and the determinants of adequate diet among children aged 6-23 months.
This cross-sectional study included 200 children aged 6-23 months and their mothers/care givers recruited during child welfare clinics of two health facilities in Ghana. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess determinants of adequate diet.
Sixty-eight percent of the mothers knew the recommended duration of continued breastfeeding, 56.5% how to ensure dietary diversity and enrich their children's diets and 94% (n = 188) had positive attitude towards recommended infant and young child feeding practices. Majority of the mothers (92%, n = 183) practiced continued breastfeeding, 10.5% of the children met minimum diet diversity score, 39.5% minimum meal frequency and 8.5% received minimum adequate diet. Determinants of receipt of minimum adequate diet were: having high knowledge in child feeding recommendations (100% vs. 0.0, p < 0.001) and child's father reportedly earning adequate income to cater for the family (AOR = 12.1 (1.32-109.72, p = 0.027).
Motherss knowledge levels regarding infant and young child feeding recommendations had notable deficiencies although they generally had a positive attitude towards child feeding recommendations. Knowledge regarding infant and young child feeding recommendations as well as the child's father having adequate income were important determinants of adequate diet. Nutrition education should emphasize on improving mothers' nutrition knowledge regarding infant and young child feeding recommendations and supporting mothers to overcome barriers to feed their children with adequate diets.
辅食添加对于婴幼儿获得最佳营养至关重要，因为它能确保他们的生长、健康和发育，使其充分发挥潜力。然而，有证据表明，发展中国家的儿童未达到适当辅食添加的核心指标。我们评估了母亲们关于儿童喂养建议的知识和态度，以及6至23个月儿童充足饮食的决定因素。
这项横断面研究纳入了在加纳两家卫生机构的儿童福利诊所招募的200名6至23个月的儿童及其母亲/照顾者。使用结构化问卷收集数据。采用多因素逻辑回归评估充足饮食的决定因素。
68%的母亲知道推荐的持续母乳喂养时长，56.5%的母亲知道如何确保饮食多样化并丰富孩子的饮食，94%（n = 188）的母亲对推荐的婴幼儿喂养方式持积极态度。大多数母亲（92%，n = 183）实行持续母乳喂养，10.5%的儿童达到最低饮食多样化得分，39.5%的儿童达到最低进餐频率，8.5%的儿童获得最低充足饮食。获得最低充足饮食的决定因素包括：对儿童喂养建议有较高认知（100%对0.0，p < 0.001）以及据报告儿童的父亲有足够收入维持家庭生计（调整后比值比 = 12.1（1.32 - 109.72，p = 0.027）。
尽管母亲们总体上对儿童喂养建议持积极态度，但她们在婴幼儿喂养建议方面的知识水平存在显著不足。关于婴幼儿喂养建议的知识以及儿童父亲有足够收入是充足饮食的重要决定因素。营养教育应着重提高母亲们关于婴幼儿喂养建议的营养知识，并支持母亲们克服障碍，为孩子提供充足的饮食。
