Breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices in a Swaziland population

Before construction of the Maguga Dam near Pigs Peak in Swaziland commenced, a baseline cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the nutritional status of the population a part of a health status survey. In this article we report the breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices of children younger than two years of age. The study population consisted of people living in three areas, which are likely to be affected by the construction of the Maguga Dam in Swaziland, and two areas approximately 150km away, which were selected because of socio-economic and demographic similarities. The initiation rate of breastfeeding was high, and most of the children were breastfeed for at least 12 months. Sixty percent of infants were introduced to solid foods at the age of 4-6 months. Maize meal porridge was the solid food introduced first to more than 80% of the infants. Approximately two months lapsed before the next solid food was introduced. Although only a small percentage (9.4%) of the mothers used formula milk, less than half of these mothers followed the correct mixing proportions (one scoop formula on 25ml water). When breast milk and solid foods were given during the same feeding session, approximately one third of the mothers gave breast milk first and then the solid foods. This study showed that the initiation and duration of breastfeeding are not a problem in this population residing in Swaziland. The complementary feeding practices of concern were the age of introducing solid foods (28.2% before 4 months and 11.8% after 6 months), the lapse of 2 months before the next solid food was introduced, and the order of feeding breast milk and solids, and the incorrect mixing of formula milk.