Current feeding practices and maternal nutritional knowledge on complementary feeding in Korea.
10.3345/kjp.2009.52.10.1090
- Author:
Hye Won YOM
1
;
Jeong Wan SEO
;
Hyesook PARK
;
Kwang Hae CHOI
;
Ju Young CHANG
;
Eell RYOO
;
Hye Ran YANG
;
Jae Young KIM
;
Ji Hyun SEO
;
Yong Joo KIM
;
Kyung Rye MOON
;
Ki Soo KANG
;
Kie Young PARK
;
Seong Soo LEE
;
Jeong Ok SHIM
Author Information
1. Committee on Nutrition Korean Pediatric Society, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Complementary feeding;
Complementary foods;
Weaning
- MeSH:
Aged;
Friends;
Hospitals, General;
Humans;
Incidence;
Infant;
Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena;
Internet;
Korea;
Meat;
Milk;
Mothers;
Organothiophosphorus Compounds;
Surveys and Questionnaires;
Soy Milk;
Weaning
- From:Korean Journal of Pediatrics
2009;52(10):1090-1102
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To evaluate current feeding practices and maternal nutritional knowledge on complementary feeding. METHODS: Mothers of babies aged 9-15 months who visited pediatric clinics of 14 general hospitals between September and December 2008 were asked to fill questionnaires. Data from 1,078 questionnaires were analyzed. RESULTS: Complementary food was introduced at 4-7 months in 89% of babies. Home-made rice gruel was the first complementary food in 93% cases. Spoons were used for initial feeding in 97% cases. At 6-7 months, <50% of babies were fed meat (beef, 43%). Less than 12-month-old babies were fed salty foods such as salted laver (35%) or bean-paste soup (51%) and cow's milk (11%). The following were the maternal sources of information on complementary feeding: books/magazines (58%), friends (30%), internet web sites (29%), relatives (14%), and hospitals (4%). Compared to the 1993 survey, the incidence of complementary food introduction before 4 months (0.4% vs. 21%) and initial use of commercial food (7% vs. 39%) had decreased. Moreover, spoons were increasingly used for initial feeding (97% vs. 57%). The average maternal nutritional knowledge score was 7.5/10. Less percentage of mothers agreed with the following suggestions: bottle formula weaning before 15-18 months (68%), no commercial baby drinks as complementary food (67%), considering formula (or cow's milk) better than soy milk (65%), and feeding minced meat from 6-7 months (57%). CONCLUSION: Complementary feeding practices have considerably improved since the last decade. Pediatricians should advise timely introduction of appropriate complementary foods and monitor diverse information sources on complementary feeding.
