Prevalence of Essential Nutrient Supplement Use and Assessment of the Knowledge and Attitudes of Lebanese Mothers towards Dietary Supplement Practices in Maternal, Infancy and Preschool Ages: Findings of a National Representative Cross-Sectional Study.

Mothers are understandably concerned about protecting the well-being of their offspring in every way possible, including providing oral dietary supplements (DSs). Up to now, there has been limited data on maternal knowledge and attitudes toward concomitant maternal-child DSs practices in Lebanon. This study evaluated the maternal knowledge and attitudes toward DSs and documented the DS-related practices in mothers and their under-5 children with their correlates. This cross-sectional study involved a representative stratified cluster random sample of 511 mother-child dyads (mothers: mean age ± SD = 30.25 ± 4.98 years; children: mean age ± SD = 18.7 ± 15.5 months, girls: 55.0%). A self-administered questionnaire was used to meet study aims. Most mothers lack awareness and hold unfavorable attitudes regarding DS use. Among all mothers, 47% were DS users, with the majority using vitamin D (82%). Almost 64% of mothers provide DSs for their children, with a predominant use of multivitamin drops (61.0%). "To keep the child healthy" was the reported reason by 60.0% of mothers to provide DSs for their children. Physicians were the primary information source about DSs for most mothers (64.0%). The usage of DSs among mothers was influenced by their pregnancy status, child's age, number of children per household, and their awareness and attitudes towards DSs. DS usage among children was correlated with maternal DS use and their mothers' attitudes towards DSs. DS usage among Lebanese mother-child dyads is common. Mothers should be the focus of education sessions regarding DS use.

Nutrition and Food Literacy in the MENA Region: A Review to Inform Nutrition Research and Policy Makers.

BACKGROUND: Improving food and nutrition literacy is fundamental to tackling the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region's enormous challenges, including malnutrition and food insecurity. To direct initiatives, it is crucial to assess the region's food and nutrition literacy. Thus, we aimed to review studies on food/nutrition literacy status in the MENA countries and illuminate the region's research gaps in these areas, in terms of assessment, policy, and program implementation. METHODS: PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched between 18 December and 8 May 2022, to identify relevant articles published up to 2022 in the MENA region. RESULTS: Twelve studies were included in this review. Lebanon, Palestine, and Iran are the only three MENA countries where nutrition and/or food literacy were assessed. People in these countries mostly had inadequate food and/or nutrition literacy levels, especially in the skills rather than the cognitive domain. Food and/or nutrition literacy showed associations with food habits, food-label use, food-consumption patterns, school performance, food security, dietary diversity, and nutrient adequacy. The MENA countries developed no policies or programs to address food and nutrition literacy. CONCLUSION: This review is a wake-up call for researchers and policymakers to develop a robust approach to combat food and nutrition literacy concerns in the MENA region.

Correlates of Sub-Optimal Feeding Practices among under-5 Children amid Escalating Crises in Lebanon: A National Representative Cross-Sectional Study.

Sub-optimal feeding practices among under-5 children are the major drivers of malnutrition. This study aims to assess the prevalence of malnutrition and the factors affecting exclusive breastfeeding, bottle feeding, and complementary feeding practices among under 5 children amid the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the economic and the political crises in Lebanon. A nationally representative stratified random sample of mother-child dyads (n = 511) was collected from households using a stratified cluster sampling design. The survey inquired about infant's feeding and complementary feeding practices using a valid questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements of the mother and child were collected. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to explore the determinants associated with under-5 children's practices. The prevalence of underweight, stunting, wasting, overweight and obese children was 0.5%, 8.4%, 6.7%, 16.8% and 8.9%, respectively. In total, among under-5 children, the prevalence of ever breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, and bottle feeding at birth was 95.1%, 59.1% and 25.8%, respectively. Half the children in this study started solid foods between 4 and 6 months. Regression analysis showed that supporting breastfeeding at hospital (aOR = 8.20, 95% CI (3.03-22.17)) and husband's support (aOR = 3.07, 95% CI (1.9-4.92)) were associated with increased breastfeeding odds. However, mother's occupation (aOR = 0.18, 95% CI (0.55-0.58)) was inversely associated with breastfeeding practices. Male children (aOR = 2.119, 95% CI (1.37-3.27), mothers diagnosed with COVID-19 (aOR = 0.58, 95% CI (0.35-0.95)), and bottle feeding at hospital (aOR = 0.5, 95% CI (0.32-0.77)) were more likely to induce early initiation of solid foods at 4 months of age. This study demonstrated non-negligible rates of malnutrition, low prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding, and high rates of early introduction of formula feeding and solid foods among Lebanese under-5-children amid escalating crises.