OBJECTIVETo study the status and problems of complementary feeding behavior for infants aging between 6 - 24 month-old in urban and rural areas of Chengdu in 2011.

METHODSA total of 1283 infants aging between 6 - 24 month-old, including 601 from urban area and 682 from rural area, were randomly selected by stratified cluster random sampling method, and divided into three groups as 6 - 8, 9 - 11 and 12 - 24 month-old groups, between March and April in 2011. Information of complementary feeding behavior were collected by questionnaire, and then assessed, quantified and compared by standards. The evaluation system was established (the total score was 24), and was used to assess among children aging 6 to 24 month-old in urban and rural areas in Chengdu.

RESULTSThe average score for infants in Chengdu was 18.6 ± 2.5, accounting for 77.6% of the total score. The scores of food selection and preparation were highest (90.7% of total score) among the behavior, and the scores of caregiver's behavior, infants behavior, feeding environment and environmental hygiene were low (about 75.2% - 77.6% of total score). The average score in urban and rural groups were separately 19.8 ± 2.1 and 17.6 ± 2.4, the score in urban group was higher than that in rural group (P < 0.05), occupying total score 82.3%, 73.4%, respectively. The average score in 6 - 8 month, 9 - 11 month and 12 - 24 month groups were separately 18.9 ± 2.3, 19.1 ± 2.4, and 18.2 ± 2.6, occupying total score 78.9%, 79.4% and 75.7%, respectively. The score in 6 - 8 and 9 - 11 month groups were higher than that in 12 - 24 month group (P < 0.01). The pass rate (above 60% of total score) was 94.2% and excellent rate (above 80% of total score) was 44.8% in Chengdu. The excellent rate in urban and rural groups were separately 65.7% and 26.4% (χ(2) = 199.825, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe complementary feeding behavior for infants was not optimistic in Chengdu, and the behavior was even worse in rural areas and among elder infants groups.