Patterns of Weaning and Its Impact on Infants’ Weight in a Rural Lower Egypt

Background Optimal nutrition is of crucial importance for normal growth especially in the first two years of life. Appropriate complementary feeding is important to achieve normal growth.
Objective: To describe the process of complementary feeding (weaning) and to identify its effect on infants’ weight, six to 24 months of age in a rural area in Lower Egypt.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study, including 200 mothers/infant pairs (six to 24 months) coming for immunization or follow up, was conducted in one of the primary health care unites, in Qaluobia Governorate. Demographic data, the process of complementary feeding, and occurrence of diarrhea or cough within the previous two weeks, were inquired about. Infants’ weight and length were measured. Descriptive and analytical bivariate and logistic regression was performed. Significance was at P-value ≤ 0.05.
Results: The percentage of normal infants’ weight was 56%. The percentages of stunting, under- and over-weight were 26%, 25%, and 19% respectively; indicating the double burden malnutrition problem. The majority of mothers (82.3%) began complementary feeding before six months with reported high percentage of diarrhea (38.5%). Minimum acceptable diet was received by 27.6% of infants, mainly, because of a poor diversity of food groups. The most frequently fed food groups were dairy products (95%), grains, roots and tubers (86.5%) and the least were the fruit and vegetables (33%) and vitamin A rich group (25.5%) Normal infants’ weight was four fold higher among normal birth-weight infants than low birth-weight (OR: 3.89, 95% CI: 1.07 – 14.22). It was not significantly affected by the age of introduction of any of food groups.
Conclusion: Infants’ malnutrition is still a common problem in our community. Three quarter of infants does not receive the minimum acceptable diet mainly, because of poor diversity. Interventions to improve feeding practice are required to address the dual burden of stunting/over-weight.