Impact of a complementary feeding intervention and mother's perceptions of child weight status in infants

Introduction: if complementary feeding is not introduced at six months or if it is inadequate, the child's growth will be affected. Objective: to evaluate the impact of a complementary feeding intervention and the mothers' perceptions of child weight status (MPCW) on growth indicators. Method: this was a quasi-experimental intervention in 19 mother-child dyads with seven workshops given to the intervention group (IG). Mothers were asked when, why, and how food groups should be introduced according to their beliefs and experience. Growth indicators were Z-scores for length-for-age (ZLA) and weight-for-length (ZWL). MPCW was measured using the question: "do you think your child is: 'a little underweight or underweight', 'more or less at a normal weight', 'a little overweight' or 'definitely overweight'?" Number of breastfed times, number of feeding times and minimal dietary diversity was determined by two 24-hour dietary recalls. Results: mothers believed that children could eat all foods by two years of age in 52.6% of cases. In the IG, a significant change was observed in its own growth in both indicators. The average ZLA was from -0.05 ± 0.5 to -0.73 ±1.0 Z-score (p < 0.03), and the average ZWL was from 0.74 ± 0.9 to 0.29 ± 0.5 (p < 0.05). For the indicator classification weight-for-length, in the final measurement 90.0% of children from the IG were classified at a normal weight and 10.0% at overweight, while in the control group (CG) 55.6% were classified at a normal weight and 44.4% at overweight (p < 0.08). Adequate MPCW was 80.0% in the IG and 33.3% in the CG (p < 0.04). Inadequate MPCW in the IG from underestimation was 20.0% and in the CG 55.6%. Conclusion: knowledge about introducing food and having an adequate MPCW has a positive impact on growth in children.