Weaning practices in urban and rural areas of Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Weaning practices varies in different communities and affected by beliefs. Family feeding order, attitudes towards weaning nutrition, geography, economic status, climate etc. Detailed knowledge of above factors is essential to improve the child nutrition. The growth of an infant and a young child is almost totally dependent on the nutrition he is getting. Improper feeding practices and poor nutrition of a young child can lead to ill health and malnutrition. It is essential to explore the knowledge, customs, beliefs and their effects to overcome malnurition and growth retardation. It is also necessary to know about the knowledge, attitude and practices relating to weaning in different communities and factor influencing these. The study is conducted on mothers of children at the age of weaning from both unban and rural origin. Simple random sampling technique is adopted for the study purpose. A questionnaire prepared to evaluate knowledge, beliefs, customs, and dietary habits relating to weaning and effect of economy, demography, literacy etc. on the believes, customs and practices. After collection of data, analysis done to draw conclusions. The study shows that 65% children are weaned at the age of 4 to 6 months in urban population while 50% in rural areas. In both population middle class weaned their children early, education also improved the situation. Weaning before the age of 3 months existed to some extent in both populations. Mixed feeding prevalent in both communities. Trend towards introduction of processed foods is more in both populations, food fads and to boos are also present, but more prevalent in rural areas, due to these high energy and protein foods are usually prohibited for a young child. In urban areas, children of working mothers also affected due to improper look after by the servants and relatives. The study shows that many children in both rural and urban population do not receive the right food to eat in their early childhood. This is resulted in growth retardation, and ill health in most children. This is true more in rural areas as compared to urban areas, but there are no significant differences in both populations, Predisposing factors include low income of the family, illiteracy, delayed weaning, late introduction of high-energy foods, protein and other nutrients for infant growth. In case the weaning foods are introduced to the infant at the right age, their frequency is less than required number of feeds per day