Feeding patterns of children under 34 months inAlexandria, Egypt

This community-based study was carried out to provide baseline data about the feeding patterns and weaning practices in children less than 24 months of age in Alexandria/Egypt. In 1995, a total of 1080 children were selected, using the cluster sampling technique, for a household 24-hour dietary survey. Children were categorized according to their age into three groups: under 6 months, from 6 to less than 12 months, and from 12 to less than 24 months. Findings revealed that the prevalence of breastfeeding dropped markedly as the child's age increased, i.e. 92.7% in babies under 6 months. 79.5% in those from 6 to less than 12 months, and 53.1% in those from 12 to less than 24 months. There was early introduction of milk substitutes [21.6%], fluids [33.6%], complementary semisolid [22.4%] and solid [9.5%] foods to babies less than 6 months of age. The bottle was the most commonly used methods for giving milk substitutes and fluids, while the spoon was the most commonly used method for giving semisolid or solid foods for different age groups. A minority of children under the age of 2 was given vitamins [2.2%] or oral rehydration solution [1.4%]. None of the infants less than 6 months of age received vitamins. The results indicate that there is a need to educate mothers about proper feeding practices

Emotional changes during pregnancy and their relation to selected socio-biological and obstetric variables

This study was conducted to reveal the prevailing emotional changes among pregnant women and the relation between these changes and some selected variables. The target group amounted to 100 pregnant women. They were selected randomly from two MCH centers in Alexandria. The results of the study showed that emotional changes are extremely common during pregnancy where anxiety over labor and delivery was the commonest followed by emotional liability. The least change was the reworking of repressed wishes. Moreover, many statistical significant relations were observed between these changes and the different study variables. These findings indicate the importance of providing emotional support to the pregnant women. This support should be given by MCH staff and the family

Reasons for choice of place of delivery

To accomplish the aim of this study a cross-sectional study was carried out on a representative sample of mothers delivered either at home or hospital. The result of the study showed that, no significant difference was observed in the mean age of women between the two studied groups, as well as those who were biologicaly or obstetricaly at risk. As regards to the most important reason given for the hospital delivery was the medical reason specially the obstetrical risk factors