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Complementary feeding practices in Mexican healthy infants: How close are they to the current guidelines?
Celia M Ortega-Cisneros1,2, Dèsirée Vidaña-Pérez3, Ana Basto-Abreu3
1Hospital Español. Ciudad de México, México.
Insights
Pediatricians and mothers in Mexico show gaps in adhering to infant feeding guidelines. Many pediatricians did not recommend exclusive breastfeeding, and both groups focused on vegetables over iron-rich foods for complementary feeding.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutrition Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Optimal infant development hinges on early nutrition, with exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) up to 6 months and timely complementary feeding (CF) being crucial.
- These practices are recognized as high-impact preventive interventions for child health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess pediatrician adherence to the Guidelines for Complementary Feeding in Healthy Infants (GCFHI).
- To evaluate mothers' awareness and knowledge of GCFHI recommendations.
- To identify discrepancies between healthcare provider recommendations and maternal practices in Mexico.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional surveys were administered to 377 mothers and 104 pediatricians in Mexico.
- Data collection focused on adherence to EBF, timing of CF introduction, and food choices for CF, referencing the GCFHI.
Main Results:
- A significant percentage of pediatricians did not universally recommend EBF, with 76% suggesting infant formula before 6 months.
- While 76.9% of mothers practiced EBF for 6 months, both groups favored vegetables (87-91%) as the initial CF food over iron-rich foods (44%).
- Maternal practices showed statistically significant differences compared to pediatrician recommendations.
Conclusions:
- Findings indicate a need for updated knowledge and practices regarding complementary feeding among healthcare providers and mothers.
- Reinforcing EBF for 6 months and promoting CF rich in macro- and micronutrients, aligned with GCFHI, is imperative.
Background:
The foundations for the growth and optimal development of every human being are laid in the first 2 years of life. Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) up to 6 months of age and the introduction of complementary feeding (CF) from this age are considered the preventive interventions with the most significant impact on a child's life. The objective of this study was to determine if pediatricians base their recommendations by following the Guidelines for CF in Healthy Infants (GCFHI) and if mothers have any awareness and knowledge of these recommendations.
Methods:
Surveys based on the GCFHI were conducted in a group of mothers (n = 377) and pediatricians (n = 104) living in Mexico.
Results:
Not all pediatricians recommended the EBF, and 76% recommended infant formula before 6 months of age. Regarding mothers, 76.9% practiced the EBF for the first 6 months. Vegetables were the leading starting food of CF suggested by pediatricians and mothers (87% and 91%, respectively), contrasting with food sources of iron (44%), which are the foods of choice according to the GCFHI. The practices performed by the mothers were statistically different from the recommendations of the pediatricians.
Conclusions:
The results reflect a lack of updating regarding CF. It is imperative to reinforce efforts to maintain the EBF for 6 months and to continue it together with the CF, as well as to promote the beginning of CF based on macro- and micro-nutrients.
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