Razia Latif, Amir Omair.
Weaning pattern of children from a low socioeconomic area of Karachi.
Pak Paed J Jan ;32(4):225-9.

To study the weaning pattern and nutritional status of children residing in a low socioeconomic area of Karachi. Methods: Patients in the age range of three to twenty four months presenting to the pediatric outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital for any reason were included in the study. Mothers accompanying the patients were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. In addition, weights of the patients were also recorded. Results were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 15.0. Results: One hundred children were enrolled in the study during the period May to August 2006. Mean age of the patients was 12.2 ± 6.9 months with a male/female ratio of 1.27:1. Mean age of the patients that were weaned was 5.2 ± 2.9 months. Taking six months as the appropriate age of weaning, the study showed that 18% of the children were weaned early, 41% were weaned appropriately, and 41% of the children were weaned late for their age. Commercially prepared cereal was the most common semi-solid food used for weaning. Of the various factors studied, only mothers’ education had statistically significant association with weaning age (p <0.001). Review of nutritional status of the study patients showed that 58 babies were normal and 39 were malnourished. Conclusion: Less than half of the children in this study were weaned appropriate for their ages. Late weaning was significantly associated with illiterate mothers. A significant proportion of the babies in this study were noted to be malnourished. Education of the mothers regarding appropriate weaning age and type of complementary foods to be used for weaning may help improve the nutritional status of these children.

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