Seema Hasnain, Muhammad Ashraf Majrooh, Raana Anjum.
Knowledge and practices of mothers for complementary feeding in babies visiting pediatrics outpatient department of Jinnah hospital, Lahore.
Biomedica Jan ;29(4):221-30.

Objective: To assess the knowledge and practices of complementary feeding among mothers attending Paediatrics outpatient department. Methods: A cross - sectional study was conducted in Pediatrics OPD Jinnah Hospital Lahore from merch - september, 2012. A total 250 mothers of the babies aged 6 - 12 months were selected by non-probability purpose sampling technique. Their knowledge and practices regarding complementary feeding was assessed by using a close ended pre-tested questionnair. Nine questions were asked for knowledge and eight questions for practices. Data analysis was done by using 'Likert's scale' and each correct answer was given one mark. The knowledge and practices was ranked as good, satisfactory and poor depending upon the overall score. If score was more than 70%, it was regarded as good, if 50 = 70%, satisfactory and if less than 50% then it was considered as poor both for knowledge and practices. Results: About 79.6% mothers exclusively breastfed their babies and 84% continued breastfeeding along with complementary feeding. The correct knowledge of initiation of complementary feeding was found in 54% of mothers but it was practiced by only 43%. The overall knowledge of 24% mothers was good and 28% had poor knowledge of complementary feeding whereas only 7% women had good overall practices. There is statistically significant association of education of the parents with the practices of complementary feeding (p-value = 0.012 and 0.0295 of mothers and fathers). Occupation of the mothers and type of family had also shown statistically significant association (p-value = 0.0178 and 0.001 respectively) with the overall practices about complementary feeding. Conclusion: More than one third of mothers had poor overall knowledge regarding complementary feeding and a very few mothers had good overall practices. Education of parents, occupation of mothers and type of family had statistically significant association with complementary feeding.

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