Korean J Pediatr.  2009 Oct;52(10):1090-1102. 10.3345/kjp.2009.52.10.1090.

Current feeding practices and maternal nutritional knowledge on complementary feeding in Korea

Affiliations
  • 1Committee on Nutrition Korean Pediatric Society, Korea.
  • 2Department of Pediatrics, Seoul Metropolitan Dong-bu Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3Department of Pediatrics, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jwseo@ewha.ac.kr
  • 4Department of Preventive Medicine, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 5Department of Pediatrics, Youngnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
  • 6Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul Metropolitan Boramae Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
  • 7Department of Pediatrics, Gachon University, Gil Hospital, Incheon, Korea.
  • 8Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
  • 9Department of Pediatrics, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
  • 10Department of Pediatrics, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
  • 11Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 12Department of Pediatrics, Chosun University School of Medicine, Gwangju, Korea.
  • 13Department of Pediatrics, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
  • 14Department of Pediatrics, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Gangneung Asan Hospital, Gangneung, Korea.
  • 15Department of Pediatrics, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea.
  • 16Department of Pediatrics, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate current feeding practices and maternal nutritional knowledge on complementary feeding.
METHODS
Mothers of babies aged 9-15 months who visited pediatric clinics of 14 general hospitals between September and December 2008 were asked to fill questionnaires. Data from 1,078 questionnaires were analyzed.
RESULTS
Complementary food was introduced at 4-7 months in 89% of babies. Home-made rice gruel was the first complementary food in 93% cases. Spoons were used for initial feeding in 97% cases. At 6-7 months, <50% of babies were fed meat (beef, 43%). Less than 12-month-old babies were fed salty foods such as salted laver (35%) or bean-paste soup (51%) and cow's milk (11%). The following were the maternal sources of information on complementary feeding: books/magazines (58%), friends (30%), internet web sites (29%), relatives (14%), and hospitals (4%). Compared to the 1993 survey, the incidence of complementary food introduction before 4 months (0.4% vs. 21%) and initial use of commercial food (7% vs. 39%) had decreased. Moreover, spoons were increasingly used for initial feeding (97% vs. 57%). The average maternal nutritional knowledge score was 7.5/10. Less percentage of mothers agreed with the following suggestions: bottle formula weaning before 15-18 months (68%), no commercial baby drinks as complementary food (67%), considering formula (or cow's milk) better than soy milk (65%), and feeding minced meat from 6-7 months (57%).
CONCLUSION
Complementary feeding practices have considerably improved since the last decade. Pediatricians should advise timely introduction of appropriate complementary foods and monitor diverse information sources on complementary feeding.

Keyword

Complementary feeding; Complementary foods; Weaning

MeSH Terms

Aged
Friends
Hospitals, General
Humans
Incidence
Infant
Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Internet
Korea
Meat
Milk
Mothers
Organothiophosphorus Compounds
Surveys and Questionnaires
Soy Milk
Weaning
Organothiophosphorus Compounds
Full Text Links
  • KJP
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr