Food consumption and feeding patterns of Czech infants and toddlers living in Prague

Abstract

Objective: To describe feeding patterns during first two years of life and their relation to sociodemographic factors. Design: Longitudinal study. Setting: Prague, Czech Republic. Subjects: Ninety-seven full-term healthy singletons enrolled at maternity ward, of which 90.7% completed the study. Methods: Diet was assessed at 9, 12 and 24 months of age using a structured 3-day dietary record. Additional information was obtained from questionnaires completed at birth and at 6 months. Results: The median duration of exclusive breastfeeding was 5 months, and that of total breastfeeding 9 months. Breastfeeding rate 47.4% at 9 months declined to 4.5% at 24 months. Total duration of breastfeeding was positively associated with maternal education and marital status but not with maternal age, gender or birth order. Breastfeeding frequency at 9, 12 and 24 months was 4.8, 4 and 3.7, respectively. The complementary food feeding frequency increased significantly with age (4.5, 4.7 and 5.9 times per day, respectively). All children at any age point consumed fruits, cereal and milk products. The proportion of children consuming meat and vegetables had increased with age but between ages 9 and 24 months, at least 23-38% children did not consume vegetables daily and 28-40% did not consume foods from meat/fish/poultry/eggs group daily. The proportion of children consuming milk and foods associated with the early complementary feeding period had fallen with age while the consumption of cereal foods other than porridge had increased. Values of indicators of adequate complementary feeding practices tentatively suggested in the context of WHO expert consultation had closely reflected breastfeeding rates. Conclusions: Breastfeeding duration is shorter than WHO recommends. It is influenced by maternal education and marital status. Compliance with complementary feeding recommendations is relatively good. Continued promotion of healthy infant and young child feeding practices is needed. Indicators evaluating complementary feeding practices should assess breastfeeding separately from other aspects.

Factors associated with inappropriate complementary feeding practices among children aged 6–23 months in Tanzania

“…Meat products, fish, poultry, dairy products and vitamin A-rich foods are consumed infrequently by young children; however, the consumption levels tend to increase with children's age. Likewise, other studies in Kenya (Mutie et al 2010), South Africa (Faber 2004), China (Dang et al 2005) and South Asia (Kudlova & Rames 2007;Joshi et al 2012;Kabir et al 2012;Patel et al 2012;Senarath et al 2012b) have also reported similar trends. Limited opportunities to access these foods have been reported to be the main limiting factor for their daily consumption (Dang et al 2005).…”

“…), South Africa (Faber ), China (Dang et al . ) and South Asia (Kudlova & Rames ; Joshi et al . ; Kabir et al .…”

Age of the introduction of the first complementary food and determinants of its early introduction by Slovak mothers

“…A significant connection between the early introduction of CF and infants being fed combined milk nutrition has been confirmed by many other studies (Hendricks et al, 2006;Grummer-Strawn et al, 2008;Schiess et al, 2010). Lower age and education of mothers participating in our research, as well as in some other studies, (Kudlova, Rames, 2007;Rebhan et al, 2009;Scott et al, 2009;Tarrant et al, 2010;Brodribb, Miller, 2013;Kronborg et al, 2014) constitute risk factors for the early introduction of CF. Analysis of the research results suggests a significant increase in likelihood in relation to decreasing levels of maternal education.…”

Breastfeeding patterns of mothers with type 1 diabetes: results from an infant feeding trial

“…A Finnish study 12 reported recently that longer duration of breastfeeding was associated with more years of parental education and older age of the mother. In a Czech study, higher maternal education was associated with longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding 25.…”