Association between complementary feeding practice and mothers education status in Islamabad

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between mother's education, complementary feeding practices and malnutrition amongst mothers attending outpatient clinics in Islamabad. METHODS: Mothers of 500 Pakistani infants attending the Paediatric Outpatient department at the Federal Government Services Hospital, Islamabad completed pretested questionnaires on mother's educational status and complementary feeding practices. RESULTS: A positive relationship was found between the nutritional status of infants and educational status of mothers (P < 0.001). The study revealed that the majority of infants with evidence of malnutrition belonged to the mothers with virtually no school education. A similar relationship was observed between the educational status of respondents and the introduction of complementary foods at an appropriate age (6 months) of infants (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Mother's education plays a vital role in increased receptivity to knowledge and awareness related to nutritional requirements of their infants.