Feeding patterns of infants and young children in Kinshasa, Zaire

A 24-hour qualitative dietary recall survey of the children of 1,155 women of lower socio-economic clas in Kinshasa, Zaire was performed. Over 80 percent were still breast fed at 13 months of age and 50 percent at 16 months. Bottle feeding was seen in less than 40 percent of any age group and was rare after 14 months. Bottle feeding was accompanied by breast feeding approximately 90 percent of the time and was not found to be statistically associated with the cessation of breast feeding. Other dietary patterns are described.(AU)