Early feeding patterns among Mexican babies: findings from the 2012 National Health and Nutrition Survey and implications for health and obesity prevention

Table 1 Characteristics of Mexican children ages 0–47.9 months from the 2012 NHNS

	Sample n = 2057
Characteristic	n	%
Gender
Male	1074	52.2
Female	983	47.8
Child weight status^a
Stunted	284	13.8
Wasted	29	1.4
Underweight	53	2.6
Overweight	173	8.4
Normal	1629	79.2
Geographic area
Urban	1448	70.4
Rural	609	29.6
Region
North	436	21.2
Center	648	31.5
Mexico City	290	14.1
South	683	33.2
Socioeconomic level^b
Low	751	36.5
Medium	710	34.5
High	597	29
Education of primary caregiver^c
Less than Elementary	101	4.9
Elementary-Secondary	1757	85.4
More than High School	197	9.6
Primary caregiver employed^c
Yes	623	30.3
No	1434	69.7
Marital status of primary caregiver^c
Married	960	46.7
Separated or divorced	133	6.5
Widowed	49	2.4
Not married	185	9
Partners living together	730	35.5
Beneficiary of assistance program^d
Food	156	7.6
Money	354	17.2
Medical	74	3.6
None	1584	77

^aUsed WHO Child Growth Standards (WHO Anthro, version 3.2.2, January 2011) which include multiple growth classifications so total is > 100 %. Based on WHO z-scores as follows: stunted = height-for-age z-score < −2; wasted = weight-for-height z-score < −2; underweight = weight-for-age z-score < −2; overweight = based on BMI-for-age z-score > 2; normal = not stunted, wasted, underweight, or overweight
^bCreated using principal component analysis based on household and community characteristics, i.e. household flooring material, potable water, ownership of electrical home appliances including washing machine, refrigerator, stove, television, radio
^cCaregiver information from mother (61 %), father (14 %), or other (24 %); 6 children missing caregiver data
^dSuch as Oportunidadas or others. Child may be direct beneficiary and/or family may receive assistance

ISSN: 2055-0928