Asunto(s)
Humanos , Femenino , Ciencias de la Nutrición , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Jamaica , MadresRESUMEN
An infant feeding survey was carried out in three parishes in Cornwall County, Jamaica, from March to August, 1984, in an attempt to determine the feeding practices of infants and beliefs of mothers in Western Jamaica. Forty-one enumeration districts (EDs) were randomly selected from two strata, urban and rural, in proportion to the population distribution. Six hundred and fourteen households with children under thirty-six months of age were selected from 41 EDs. The results showed that the prevalence of breastfeeding was 98 percent. Despite the high frequency of breastfeeding, infant formula was introduced very early, and only about half the mothers introduced semi-solids and solids within one month of the recommended time. The most popular foods, identified as good foods, were also popular weaning foods. It is concluded that there is need for adequate training of both primary and secondary health-care staff, and reinforcement of the effectiveness of nutrition education programmes is also important (AU)