Table 5 Caregivers’ knowledge and attitudes regarding infant and young child feeding (n = 1665)
Baidoa (n = 946) | Dharkenley (n = 573) | Dayniile (n = 136) | |
|---|---|---|---|
The caregivers agreed with the following statements: | |||
A newborn baby should be put on the breast to suckle: | n(%) | n(%) | n(%) |
within an hour after birth | 705 (74.5) | 327 (57.1) | 12 (8.8) |
between 1 and 2 h after birth | 173 (18.3) | 224 (39.1) | 118 (86.8) |
more than 2 h after birth | 57 (6.0) | 22 (3.8) | 6 (4.4) |
An infant should be fed on the mother’s breast milk without other solid or non-solid food items (even without water) for: | n(%) | n(%) | n(%) |
up to 3 months | 232 (24.5) | 146 (25.5) | 17 (12.5) |
up to 6 months | 590 (62.4) | 273 (47.6) | 115 (84.6) |
The following foods could be introduced to an infant in addition to breast milk | n(%) | n(%) | n(%) |
Sugar water or glucose water | |||
under 6 months | 178 (18.8) | 289 (50.4) | 115 (84.6) |
between 6–8 months | 401 (42.3) | 217 (37.9) | 19 (14.0) |
above 8 months | 314 (33.2) | 65 (11.3) | 0 |
Thin porridge | |||
under the age of 6 months | 70 (7.4) | 69 (12.0) | 18 (13.2) |
between the age of 6–8 months | 221 (23.4) | 279 (48.7) | 102 (75.0) |
above the age of 8 months | 583 (61.6) | 204 (35.6) | 11 (8.1) |
Rice | |||
under the age of 6 months | 58 (6.1) | 27 (4.7) | 23 (16.9) |
between the age of 6–8 months | 181 (19.1) | 243 (42.4) | 36 (25.5) |
above the age of 8 months | 634 (68.0) | 281 (49.0) | 76 (55.9) |
Vegetables | |||
under the age of 6 months | 64 (6.8) | 24 (4.2) | 20 (14.7) |
between the age of 6–8 months | 189 (20.0) | 176 (30.7) | 31 (22.8) |
above the age of 8 months | 604 (63.8) | 349 (60.9) | 82 (60.3) |
Fruits and fruit juice | |||
under the age of 6 months | 66 (7.0) | 22 (3.8) | 24 (17.6) |
between the age of 6–8 months | 195 (20.6) | 217 (37.8) | 62 (45.6) |
above the age of 8 months | 574 (60.9) | 313 (54.6) | 48 (35.3) |
Eggs (yolk and whole) | |||
under the age of 6 months | 70 (7.4) | 55 (9.6) | 16 (11.8) |
between the age of 6–8 months | 190 (20) | 209 (36.5) | 78 (57.4) |
above the age of 8 months | 506 (53.5) | 281 (49) | 39 (28.7) |
Meat/fish/poultry flesh | |||
under the age of 6 months | 69 (7.3) | 43 (7.5) | 11 (8) |
between the age of 6–8 months | 164 (17.3) | 162 (28.3) | 25 (18.4) |
above the age of 8 months | 509 (53.8) | 337 (58.8) | 96 (70.6) |
A baby between 6–8 months should be fed in a day: | n(%) | n(%) | n(%) |
once or less | 259 (27.4) | 52 (9) | 8 (5.9) |
twice or more | 644 (68) | 508 (88.7) | 127 (93.4) |
An infant should continue to breastfeed in addition to other complementary solid and non-solid food items up to the age of: | n(%) | n(%) | n(%) |
1 year | 386 (40.8) | 129 (22.51) | 33 (24.26) |
2 years | 509 (53.8) | 432 (75.4) | 102 (75.0) |