ABSTRACT
Background. Exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life protects against infant morbidity and mortality. Few studies describe the infant feeding practices of mothers living in low-income areas of the Western Cape Province of South Africa (SA).Objective. To describe the infant feeding practices of mothers of infants younger than 6 months in two low-income communities of SA. Methods. A cross-sectional community-based study using a structured questionnaire; and seven focus group discussions were conducted from February to August 2011 in Avian Park and Zwelethemba in Worcester; an urban area in the Western Cape. Results. Seventy-seven per cent of participants (n=108) had initiated breastfeeding. At the time of the study; 6 (n=8) breastfed exclusively. Ninety-four per cent (n=132) applied suboptimal breastfeeding practices: 36 (n=51) breastfed predominantly; 27 (n=38) breastfed partially and 31 (n=43) did not breastfeed. Ninety per cent (n=126) of the mothers had introduced water; of whom 83 (n=104) had done so before their infants were 1 month old. Forty-four per cent (n=61) of the mothers had introduced food or formula milk; of whom 75 (n=46) had done so before their infants were 3 months old. Qualitative findings indicated that gripe water; Lennon's Behoedmiddel and herbal medicines were also given to infants. Nutritive liquids and/or food most commonly given as supplementary feeds were formula milk and commercial infant cereal. Conclusion. Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) during the first 6 months of life was a rare practice in these low-income communities. Water; non-prescription medicines and formula milk and/or food were introduced at an early age