Feeding practices in the North of Jordan

Abstract EN

Objective : To describe infant feeding practices in the North of Jordan and their relationship with socio-demographic characteristics and to asses whether they meet with infant feeding recommendations.

Methods : A descriptive cross sectional study involving a questionnaire administered to 375 mothers of healthy children less than one and a half years of age, who attended Prince Rashid Military Hospital or primary care centers in the North of Jordan from September to December 2010, was conducted.

It included information about family socio-demographic factors and patterns of infant feeding including breastfeeding status and the use of infant formula and transitions in infant feeding from breast milk and infant formula to complementary foods, table foods and other beverages.

Premature infants, children with chronic illness and infants on special formula were excluded from the study.

The Statistical Package for Social Sciences software (SPSS) version 11.5 was used for data processing and statistical analysis.

Cross-tabulations were made and statistical significance was tested with the Chi-square test.

Results : Three hundred and seventy five mothers filled the questionnaire.

Of these 88.1 % have ever breast fed their babies.

Of those who breast fed their babies, 40.7 % have breast fed their babies for the first three months of life, 21 % continued breast feeding for six months and 17.5 % continued breast feeding for the first 12 months of life.

The most common reason mentioned by mothers for not continuing breast feeding is that mothers thought that their breast milk is not enough for their babies (46.1 %).

Artificial infant formula was introduced in 78.7 % and 91.2 % in the first four and six months of age respectively, 46.8 % of mothers thought that breast milk is not enough for their babies even in the first four months of life.

Significant percentages of mothers gave their babies water, herbs, fruits and vegetables and cereals at early ages.

Meat and eggs were also given earlier but to a much lesser extent.

Mother education level and employment were significantly associated with most of feeding behaviors.

Conclusions : Exclusive breast feeding is uncommon in the north of Jordan.

There is a high rate of artificial milk feeding early in infancy and there are wrong feeding practices and beliefs.

Public health interventions and mother education should be implemented.