Patterns and determinants of breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices of Emirati Mothers in the United Arab Emirates

BMC Public Health

Hadia Radwan¹ 

[1] Sr. Nutritionist in Community Nutrition Department, Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

关键词: United Arab Emirates;    Supplementation;    Complementary feeding;    Exclusive breastfeeding;    Breastfeeding;   

Others  :  1162508
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-13-171

 received in 2012-06-26, accepted in 2013-02-13,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

Breastfeeding is the preferred method of feeding for the infant. The present study aimed at investigating the different infant feeding practices and the influencing factors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Methods

A convenient sample of 593 Emirati mothers who had infants up to 2 years of age was interviewed. The interviews included a detailed questionnaire and conducted in the Maternal and Child Health Centers (MCH) and Primary Health Centers (PHC) in three cities.

Results

Almost all the mothers in the study had initiated breastfeeding (98%). The mean duration of breastfeeding was 8.6 months. The initiation and duration of breastfeeding rates were influenced by mother’s age (P<0.034)and education(P<0.01), parity(OR=2.13; P<0.001), rooming in(OR=21.70; P<0.001), nipple problem(P<0.010) and use of contraception(P<0.034). As for the feeding patterns, the results of the multiple logistic analyses revealed that rooming in (OR=4.48; P<0.001), feeding on demand (OR=2.29; P<0.005) and feeding more frequently at night (P<0.001) emerged as significant factors associated with exclusive or predominantly breastfeeding practices. Among the 593 infants in the study, 24.1% had complementary feeding, 25% of the infants were exclusively breastfed, and 49.4% were predominantly breastfed since birth. About 30% of the infants were given nonmilk fluids such as: Anis seed drink (Yansun), grippe water and tea before 3 months of age. The majority of the infants (83.5%) in the three areas received solid food before the age of 6 months. A variety of reasons were reported as perceived by mothers for terminating breastfeeding. The most common reasons were: new pregnancy (32.5%), insufficient milk supply (24.4%) and infant weaned itself (24.4%).

Conclusions

In conclusion, infant and young child feeding practices in this study were suboptimal. There is a need for a national community-based breastfeeding intervention programme and for the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding as part of a primary public health strategy to decrease health risks and problems in the UAE.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Radwan; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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