Consumption Pattern of Infant Foods by Turkish Immigrants

Abstract

Fifty-nine Turkish infants in metropolitan Stockholm and two adjacent communities have been studied regarding food consumption pattern. The infants were breastfed for a shorter period than expected in Turkey and shorter than in Swedish children. Illiterate mothers breastfed longer than those who had received some kind of education. Formula feeding was extensively used. Supplementary semisolid feeding was introduced, mainly at 4-6 months of age, much earlier than in Turkey but rather later than in Swedish families. Some problems were noted with the bottle feeding, most importantly with regard to hygienic practices, dangerous especially on summer visits to Turkey. Unsatisfactory handling of bottle feeding was linked to the mother's educational level. Further interest in nutrition education for this and other immigrant groups is important.

Nutritional needs of refugee children in the UK

“…Rates of initiation and exclusive breastfeeding and the duration of breastfeeding seem to decline rapidly among Hmong 38 , Vietnamese 39 and Puerto Rican 34 immigrants to the US. Similar trends are reported among Turks in Sweden 40 and Bangladeshis in the UK 41 . Reduced breastfeeding activity has detrimental effects even in industrial nations when access to healthcare, good nutrition and sanitary living conditions is constrained.…”

Ethnicity, childhood environment and atopic disorder

“…Studies of the diet of infants and toddlers in Sweden have demonstrated some important differences in children with Chilean‐born parents compared with Turkish‐born parents. Children in the Turkish group have a longer duration of breastfeeding, and Chileans introduce semisolid foods earlier [ 33, 34]. Turkish immigrants have a higher dietary fibre content compared with Chilean immigrants in Sweden, and also tend to add bacterial cultures to their milk products (mainly yoghurt) more often than Chileans [ 35, 36].…”

Growth, Nutritional Status and Infant Mortality of Turkish Immigrant Preschool Children

“…parents education and occupation, time spent in Sweden, family size, child's nation of birth, recent contact with Turkey. For infants mode of feeding, breast, bottled or mixed, was noted (6). Mothers were further asked as to number of children born and dead, age, clinical picture and presumed cause of loss for the dead children, time passed since death.…”

“…Growth, clinical status and mortality is presented here. Food consumption of infants is presented elsewhere (6).…”