Awad Bashar Yaser Hasan, Shahin Farah Bilal Yousef, Awad Mohammad Yaser Hasan, Warasna Haya Jebreen Mohammed, Mahfoud Amal, Jobran Afnan W M, Owais Tarek A
Faculty of Medicine, Palestine Polytechnic University, Hebron, Palestine.
Faculty of Medicine, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria.
Ann Med. 2025 Dec;57(1):2489012. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2025.2489012. Epub 2025 Apr 9.
Although nutritionally beneficial, honey may harbor Clostridium botulinum spores, posing risks to infant botulism (IB). Infants under one year are vulnerable due to immature gut flora, with IB potentially causing severe symptoms, such as respiratory failure. Despite global awareness, cultural beliefs influenced caregivers' practices in Palestine. This study evaluated Palestinian parents' knowledge, beliefs, and feeding practices regarding honey to guide targeted interventions.
This cross-sectional study (August-September 2024) surveyed 469 Palestinian parents (aged ≥18 years) from 10 West Bank cities, excluding 88 ineligible responses. A validated questionnaire assessed their knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Data were analyzed using the R software (frequency, Chi-squared/Fisher's tests; p < 0.05).
Most participants were female (89%), under 30 years old (53%), and highly educated (77%). While 58% knew of honey-linked IB, only 32% identified C. botulinum as the causative agent. Notably, 15.8% fed honey to infants aged <12 months and 62.5% introduced complementary feeding at 6-12 months. Age and income-influenced practices, with many believing that honey aids digestion or supplements nutrition.
The findings reveal gaps in knowledge and widespread cultural beliefs about the benefits of honey, which contribute to unsafe feeding practices. Health interventions in Palestine should incorporate these insights to improve awareness and to prevent IB.
蜂蜜虽然具有营养价值，但可能含有肉毒梭菌孢子，对婴儿肉毒中毒（IB）构成风险。一岁以下婴儿由于肠道菌群未成熟而易受影响，婴儿肉毒中毒可能导致严重症状，如呼吸衰竭。尽管全球都有认识，但文化观念影响了巴勒斯坦护理人员的做法。本研究评估了巴勒斯坦父母关于蜂蜜的知识、观念和喂养习惯，以指导有针对性的干预措施。
这项横断面研究（2024年8月至9月）调查了来自约旦河西岸10个城市的469名巴勒斯坦父母（年龄≥18岁），排除了88份不合格的回复。一份经过验证的问卷评估了他们的知识、态度和习惯。使用R软件（频率、卡方检验/费舍尔检验；p<0.05）对数据进行分析。
大多数参与者为女性（89%），年龄在30岁以下（53%），且受教育程度高（77%）。虽然58%的人知道与蜂蜜有关联的婴儿肉毒中毒，但只有32%的人确定肉毒梭菌是病原体。值得注意的是，15.8%的人给12个月以下的婴儿喂食蜂蜜，62.5% 的人在6至12个月时开始添加辅食。年龄和收入影响了喂养习惯，许多人认为蜂蜜有助于消化或补充营养。
研究结果揭示了关于蜂蜜益处的知识差距以及广泛存在的文化观念，这些因素导致了不安全的喂养习惯。巴勒斯坦的健康干预措施应纳入这些见解，以提高认识并预防婴儿肉毒中毒。
Zotero 插件