Cent Eur J Public Health 2015, 23(2):149-154 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3988

Complementary Feeding Practices of Children Aged 12-23 Months in Turkey

Eda Köksal1, Sıddıka Songül Yalçın2, Gülden Pekcan3, Sema Özbaş4, Başak Tezel4, Mehmet Rifat Köse4
1 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Science, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
2 Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
3 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
4 Maternal Child Health and Family Planning, Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health, Ankara, Turkey

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the breastfeeding and complementary feeding attitudes and practices of women with children aged 12-23 months in three different regions in Turkey.

Methods: From 12 geographical regions (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics - NUTS 1), 3 regions were selected depending on the Turkish Demographic Health Survey 2003 (TDHS) results of nutritional status of children. Then, a weighted, multistage, stratified cluster sampling was used. In total, 1,486 children aged 12-23 months and mother pairs were enrolled. Mothers were face-to-face interviewed with trained health workers to collect information on breastfeeding practices, amount and types of complementary foods introduced and potentially related factors and demographic data filled in a questionnaire.

Results: The percentage of ever breastfeeding was 98.7%, no differences were determined among regions for ever breastfeeding (p>0.05). Duration of exclusive breastfeeding was 5.1±2.4 months. The shortest duration of exclusive breastfeeding was found in the good nutritional status region as 4.8±2.4 months (p<0.05). Yogurt, bread, pasta, fruits and vegetables were the foods introduced to the majority of the children. Red meat, poultry and fish were introduced to children in later ages in the low nutritional status region compared to middle and good nutritional status regions. Complementary feeding is introduced earlier than 6 months of age.

Conclusions: Raising awareness on appropriate infant and young child feeding practices should be a priority. Enhancing of mothers knowledge, attitudes and practices on breastfeeding and complementary feeding is needed.

Keywords: breastfeeding, complementary feeding, complementary foods, feeding practices

Received: November 19, 2013; Revised: March 27, 2015; Accepted: March 27, 2015; Published: June 1, 2015  Show citation

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Köksal E, Yalçın SS, Pekcan G, Özbaş S, Tezel B, Köse MR. Complementary Feeding Practices of Children Aged 12-23 Months in Turkey. Cent Eur J Public Health. 2015;23(2):149-154. doi: 10.21101/cejph.a3988. PubMed PMID: 26851426.
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