Feeding patterns and growth of infants in Jeddah

ABSTRACT

Infants aged 9-10 months brought for measles vaccination were Investigated to assess their pattern of feeding and their growth. They totalled 347 and they were chosen from 8 health centres in Jeddah. The present mode of feeding was predominantly bottle fed [42.4%]. The modal age for those who stopped breast was 1 month, while 52.7%, were still exclusively breast fed or in fccabination. Maternal causes were responsible for 55% and infant causes for 35%. The modal age for introduction of semisolid food was the fourth month [31.4%]. The modal age of supplementation with artificial milk among those who were supplemented was since birth [15.9%]. Infants below Harvard's third percentile cons-tituted 16.4% of the total sample and they were found with all types of feeding except with exclusive breast or exclusive bottle Infants. All patterns of feeding will lead to growth faultering males and females and among Saudi and non-Saudi infants when seen at the age of 9 months