Complementary Feeding Practices of Mothers and Their Perceived Impacts on Young Children: Findings from KEEA District of
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Complementary Feeding Practices of Mothers and Their Perceived Impacts on Young Children: Findings from KEEA District of Ghana Bridget K. Egyir1 • Samantha A. Ramsay1 • Barry Bilderback2 • SeAnne Safaii3
Springer Science+Business Media New York 2016
Abstract Objective Appropriate and timely complementary feeding practices are fundamental to a child’s growth, health, and development during the first 2 years of life. This study aimed to understand (1) Ghanaian mother’s complementary feeding practices, and (2) their perceived and observed impacts of complementary feeding on their children. Methods Ghanaian mothers with children 4–24 months of age were recruited from four communities in the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem district in the Central Region of Ghana (n = 99). A qualitative methodological approach with focus group interview discussions was used. Eleven focus group interviews were conducted, and were audio recorded and transcribed. The audio transcriptions were coded and analyzed into pertinent themes, meta-themes, and theoretical concepts. Results Over 80 % (85) of mothers reported poor
knowledge about the effects of complementary feeding on their children and 45 % (45) of the children were undernourished, indicating inappropriate complementary feeding practices. Some mothers held misconceptions about the effect of food on children’s health. Four overarching themes were identified: (1) mothers’ background knowledge about food, child health and growth outcomes, (2) mothers’ motivation in feeding their children, (3) barriers to feeding, (4) foods mothers offered their children. Conclusion for Practice Nutrition education on complementary feeding is needed for Ghanaian mothers. Health facilities and community outreach programs could be a venue to provide education to mothers regarding infant and young child feeding practices in Ghana. Keywords Complementary feeding practices Infant and young children Ghana Malnutrition Ghanaian mothers
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10995-016-1994-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. & Bridget K. Egyir [email protected]
SeAnne Safaii [email protected]
Complementary feeding practices have been reported to be inadequate in Ghana. Inadequate complementary feeding practices are the major determinant of malnutrition among children under 5 years of age. The results from this study indicate that mothers’ complementary feeding practices are affected by barriers (financial, paternal, and child barriers) and their perceptions and knowledge about food, and child growth outcomes.
School of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Idaho, Niccolls Bldg. Room 109B, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 3183, Moscow, ID 83843-3183, USA
Introduction
Samantha A. Ramsay [email protected] Barry Bilderback [email protected]
1
Significance
2
University of Idaho, Blake House, Room 108, Moscow, ID 83843, USA
3
University of Idaho, 1031 N Academic Way Ste. 145, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814, USA
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