Evaluation of infant's complementary nutrition pattern and some of its associated factors in Birjand

Suitable growth and development of infants is dependent on correct feeding and proper nutritious habits. Lack of mothers’ knowledge and their improper practice regarding nutrition in infancy, is one of the important reasons of malnutrition in this period. This study was designed to assess the pattern of one-year infants’ complementary nutrition and mothers’ knowledge about it and some of its related factors. This descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted in winter 2006 on 260 mothers who referred to Birjand health centers for MMR vaccination of their one-year infants. A questionnaire was completed through interview with mothers. Data were analyzed by SPSS using t-test, ANOVA and chi-square test. The mean age of starting complementary nutrition in studied infants was 5.55±1.03 months which showed significant correlation with level of education and maternal age (P<0.05). There was not significant correlation between the age of starting complementary nutrition and parents’ job, paternal age and level of education, family income, sex of child and order of birth. The most common pattern of beginning complementary food was rice mucilage, pudding and almond porridge, respectively. Level of mothers’ knowledge regarding the pattern of complementary nutrition in infants was poor in 8.1%, middle in 65.4% and good knowledge was observed in 26.5% of mothers. A significant correlation between level of mothers’ knowledge and their level of education, job and age was found (P<0.05). This study showed that unfortunately mothers’ information about the importance of complementary nutrition in infants was not enough. It seems that one of main causes is the lack of necessary trainings in mothers.