Factors associated with appropriate complementary feeding: A scoping review.

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Public Health
• Nutrition Science

Background:

• Childhood stunting is a critical issue linked to early life nutrition.
• Optimal complementary feeding is essential for preventing malnutrition and establishing healthy eating habits.
• Systematic examination of factors influencing complementary feeding practices is needed to inform interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize evidence on factors associated with appropriate complementary feeding practices in infants and young children.
• To identify maternal, socio-environmental, and informational factors impacting complementary feeding.
• To provide a foundation for developing strategies to improve child nutrition.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review was conducted.
• Searched five major databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, Web of Science) for studies published between 2009 and 2022.
• Analyzed 30 eligible full-text articles using descriptive and content analysis.

Main Results:

• Maternal factors identified include knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy, parity, and healthcare utilization (antenatal care, postnatal check-ups).
• Socio-environmental factors encompass age, education, income, employment, residence, household size, ethnicity, and social support.
• Informational factors involve media exposure, information sources, and intervention participation.

Conclusions:

• Maternal, socio-environmental, and informational factors are significantly associated with appropriate complementary feeding.
• Further research is required to establish causal relationships between these factors and feeding practices.
• Findings highlight the multifactorial nature of complementary feeding and inform targeted public health strategies.