Concerns regarding complementary feeding practices among urban Chinese mothers: a focus group study in Xi’an
Abstract Background Complementary feeding (CF) is an important determinant of infant growth and development. However, CF practices are influenced by caregivers’ perceptions and knowledge. This study aimed to describe perceptions and factors that potentially influence CF practices among Chinese mothe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41043-018-0151-3 |
| _version_ | 1828258729362980864 |
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| author | Xin Liu Xia Liao Qiannan Ren Meng Luo Lei Yang Jing Lin Jie Chang |
| author_facet | Xin Liu Xia Liao Qiannan Ren Meng Luo Lei Yang Jing Lin Jie Chang |
| author_sort | Xin Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Complementary feeding (CF) is an important determinant of infant growth and development. However, CF practices are influenced by caregivers’ perceptions and knowledge. This study aimed to describe perceptions and factors that potentially influence CF practices among Chinese mothers living in Xi’an, a rapidly developing city in China. Methods This focus group study included three discussion groups. Topics related to practices and concerns regarding CF were discussed among women with at least one child aged 4–36 months. A brief questionnaire was used to collect demographic information for mothers and their children. Results Among study participants, the timing of starting CF for their children varied from age 4 to 8 months. Grain was ranked as the top food for CF, and homemade food was preferred to commercial CF products. Food additives and preservatives were the priority concerns when purchasing commercial baby food, particularly regarding uncertainty about their safety. In terms of nutrition, deficiencies in minerals and vitamins were of major concern. The issue of bio-availability of added nutrients in baby food was also raised during the discussions. Participants showed a strong reliance on information obtained from the Internet via computers or smartphones as their main source of CF knowledge, but felt this information lacked expertise. Conclusions Participating mothers from Xi’an prefer homemade food for CF to commercial products. More scientific knowledge of CF and related food safety issues should be available, perhaps via Internet-based approaches. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T02:57:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0d4913fc821740e9b0c5fc787ae042c1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-1315 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T02:57:26Z |
| publishDate | 2018-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-0d4913fc821740e9b0c5fc787ae042c12022-12-22T03:05:35ZengBMCJournal of Health, Population and Nutrition2072-13152018-07-013711710.1186/s41043-018-0151-3Concerns regarding complementary feeding practices among urban Chinese mothers: a focus group study in Xi’anXin Liu0Xia Liao1Qiannan Ren2Meng Luo3Lei Yang4Jing Lin5Jie Chang6Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science CenterDepartment of Nutrition, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science CenterThe Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science CenterThe Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science CenterThe Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science CenterDepartment of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science CenterDepartment of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityAbstract Background Complementary feeding (CF) is an important determinant of infant growth and development. However, CF practices are influenced by caregivers’ perceptions and knowledge. This study aimed to describe perceptions and factors that potentially influence CF practices among Chinese mothers living in Xi’an, a rapidly developing city in China. Methods This focus group study included three discussion groups. Topics related to practices and concerns regarding CF were discussed among women with at least one child aged 4–36 months. A brief questionnaire was used to collect demographic information for mothers and their children. Results Among study participants, the timing of starting CF for their children varied from age 4 to 8 months. Grain was ranked as the top food for CF, and homemade food was preferred to commercial CF products. Food additives and preservatives were the priority concerns when purchasing commercial baby food, particularly regarding uncertainty about their safety. In terms of nutrition, deficiencies in minerals and vitamins were of major concern. The issue of bio-availability of added nutrients in baby food was also raised during the discussions. Participants showed a strong reliance on information obtained from the Internet via computers or smartphones as their main source of CF knowledge, but felt this information lacked expertise. Conclusions Participating mothers from Xi’an prefer homemade food for CF to commercial products. More scientific knowledge of CF and related food safety issues should be available, perhaps via Internet-based approaches.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41043-018-0151-3Complementary feedingFood additivesUrban mothers |
| spellingShingle | Xin Liu Xia Liao Qiannan Ren Meng Luo Lei Yang Jing Lin Jie Chang Concerns regarding complementary feeding practices among urban Chinese mothers: a focus group study in Xi’an Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition Complementary feeding Food additives Urban mothers |
| title | Concerns regarding complementary feeding practices among urban Chinese mothers: a focus group study in Xi’an |
| title_full | Concerns regarding complementary feeding practices among urban Chinese mothers: a focus group study in Xi’an |
| title_fullStr | Concerns regarding complementary feeding practices among urban Chinese mothers: a focus group study in Xi’an |
| title_full_unstemmed | Concerns regarding complementary feeding practices among urban Chinese mothers: a focus group study in Xi’an |
| title_short | Concerns regarding complementary feeding practices among urban Chinese mothers: a focus group study in Xi’an |
| title_sort | concerns regarding complementary feeding practices among urban chinese mothers a focus group study in xi an |
| topic | Complementary feeding Food additives Urban mothers |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41043-018-0151-3 |
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