Infant Feeding Practices in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Infant-feeding patterns were studied in 6,623 randomly selected Saudi families living in Riyadh. The 4,796 infants studied were under 1 year of age and were fed with breast milk plus bottle complements. Bottle-feeding was started in 27.3% of infants during the first month after birth. The mean age at which solid food was introduced was 3.45 months. The overall results suggest a decreasing incidence of breast-feeding along with diminishing length of nursing period.AR Al-Frayh, SS. Wong, KN. Hague, Infant Feeding Practices in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 1988; 8(3): 194-197 MeSH KEYWORDS: Feeding behavior-in infancy and childhood Infant-feeding habits in a community are constantly changing. Despite the considerable advantages of breastfeeding, 1-3 breast-feeding rates have declined. 4,5 We investigated current infant-feeding practices among a representative sample of Saudi mothers living in Riyadh. The study was part of a larger survey being conducted to determine the auxanological variance and growth standards among Saudi preschool children. Materials and MethodsThe study consisted of a community field survey using a structured questionnaire of 6,623 randomly selected Saudi families living in the Riyadh area.The sample design was essentially based on quota sampling using two interlocked controls of preschoolers' age and sex. To introduce the necessary element of randomness (both geographic and socioeconomic) during the actual selection process, a stratified three-stage random sampling frame of Riyadh administrative areas and roads was established.The city of Riyadh was first divided into 93 administrative areas. These areas were further divided into six strata according to socioeconomic homogeneity. About one fifth of the identified areas in each stratum were chosen randomly to be included in the study. Based on random selection, 17 of 93 areas were selected for the survey. Each randomly selected area was further subdivided into roads. Altogether, there were 1,376 roads in the 17 randomly selected areas. To obtain an overall sampling fraction of 1/30, about one sixth of the roads in each of the 17 areas selected from the first sampling stage were chosen randomly (224 roads). Finally, each road was subsequently divided into smaller, more manageable blocks of approximately equal size, and a sample of such blocks was randomly selected and surveyed.

Trends in infant nutrition in Saudi Arabia: compliance with WHO recommendations

“…In 1988, Al-Frayh et al reported on infant feeding practices in 4796 infants under 1 year of age living in Riyadh and found that the average duration of breastfeeding was 5.05 months, while bottle feeding was started under 1.0 month of age in 27.3% and the mean age for starting solid food was 3.5 months 11. In another nutritional survey conducted in several semirural areas of Saudi Arabia, Al-Othaimeen et al found that 21.5% of 767 children were breastfed completely, 68.4% used mixed feedings and about 10% did not breastfeed 12.…”

Surveillance of infant feeding practices in Riyadh city

“…18 In a study from Riyadh, 31.3% of children were breastfed alone, 59.4% were fed with breast and bottle and 9.3% were fed by bottle alone. 19 Another study of 250 children from Riyadh at one month of age revealed that 42% were on mixed feeding, 31% were bottle fed and remaining 27% were totally breastfed. 20 In a nationwide survey mentioned earlier, 16 the duration of breastfeeding for the last born child was 12.5 months.…”

“…In an earlier study from Riyadh, the mean duration of breastfeeding for children between 6 and 8.9 months was 4.66 months and between 9 and 12 months of age was 5.99 months. 19 …”

Health education during antenatal care: the need for more

“…Some of these beliefs can be harmful and could be related to the decline in breastfeeding, which has been documented in the Saudi Arabia. 38 , 39 …”