Timing of Introduction to Complementary Foods in Māori, Pasifika, and Other Infants in Aotearoa New Zealand
Transitioning from milk to complementary food (CF) is a critical time for infants, with the non-timely introduction associated with poorer health outcomes. We aimed to describe the timing of the introduction of CF and its sociodemographic associations in an ethnically diverse cohort of urban-dwellin...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Medical Sciences Forum |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9992/18/1/17 |
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| author | Maria Casale Kathryn Beck Cathryn Conlon Lisa Te Morenga Jillian Haszard Anne-Louise Heath Rachael Taylor Pamela von Hurst |
| author_facet | Maria Casale Kathryn Beck Cathryn Conlon Lisa Te Morenga Jillian Haszard Anne-Louise Heath Rachael Taylor Pamela von Hurst |
| author_sort | Maria Casale |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Transitioning from milk to complementary food (CF) is a critical time for infants, with the non-timely introduction associated with poorer health outcomes. We aimed to describe the timing of the introduction of CF and its sociodemographic associations in an ethnically diverse cohort of urban-dwelling infants. The timing of CF introduction and sociodemographic characteristics (ethnicity, maternal education, parity, deprivation index, infant sex) were collected by questionnaire when infants were 7.0–10.0 months. Early CF introduction was defined as ≤4 months and late as ≥7 months of age. Of 625 infants, 131 (20.1%) were identified as Māori, 82 (13.2%) as Pasifika, and 450 (72.1%) as other. The mean (SD) age of CF introduction was 4.9 (1.1) months for both Māori and Pasifika infants and 5.3 (0.8) months for other. 6.9% of Māori infants were introduced to CF before 4 months, 33.6% at 4 months, and 3.1% at 7 months. For Pasifika, the percentages were 9.8%, 24.4%, and 3.7%, respectively. For others, percentages were lower at <1%, 16.7%, and 1.8%, respectively. Using logistic regression analysis, Māori and Pasifika had higher odds of early CF introduction for infants with mothers whose highest education was secondary school (Māori: 3.8 ([95% CI] 1.5, 9.8); Pasifika: 3.3 (1.1, 10.3)). The odds of early CF introduction for other infants were higher for those with mothers whose highest education was secondary school (2.1 (1.2, 3.5)), who lived in areas of high deprivation (1.8 (1.0, 3.2)), and whose infant sex was male (1.7 (1.1, 2.9)). Parity was not associated with early CF introduction for any group. Most infants in all groups were introduced to CF between 4 and 6 months of age and over half at around 6 months of age. A small proportion of infants were introduced before 4 months. This research identifies groups that would benefit from more targeted infant feeding support. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:29:09Z |
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| id | doaj.art-954f1f4a199e4a659eb124c14ee3df18 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-9992 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:29:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-954f1f4a199e4a659eb124c14ee3df182023-12-22T14:28:34ZengMDPI AGMedical Sciences Forum2673-99922023-03-011811710.3390/msf2023018017Timing of Introduction to Complementary Foods in Māori, Pasifika, and Other Infants in Aotearoa New ZealandMaria Casale0Kathryn Beck1Cathryn Conlon2Lisa Te Morenga3Jillian Haszard4Anne-Louise Heath5Rachael Taylor6Pamela von Hurst7School of Sport Exercise and Nutrition, Massey University, Auckland 0745, New ZealandSchool of Sport Exercise and Nutrition, Massey University, Auckland 0745, New ZealandSchool of Sport Exercise and Nutrition, Massey University, Auckland 0745, New ZealandResearch Centre for Hauora and Health, Massey University, Wellington 6140, New ZealandBiostatistics Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New ZealandDepartment of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New ZealandDepartment of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New ZealandSchool of Sport Exercise and Nutrition, Massey University, Auckland 0745, New ZealandTransitioning from milk to complementary food (CF) is a critical time for infants, with the non-timely introduction associated with poorer health outcomes. We aimed to describe the timing of the introduction of CF and its sociodemographic associations in an ethnically diverse cohort of urban-dwelling infants. The timing of CF introduction and sociodemographic characteristics (ethnicity, maternal education, parity, deprivation index, infant sex) were collected by questionnaire when infants were 7.0–10.0 months. Early CF introduction was defined as ≤4 months and late as ≥7 months of age. Of 625 infants, 131 (20.1%) were identified as Māori, 82 (13.2%) as Pasifika, and 450 (72.1%) as other. The mean (SD) age of CF introduction was 4.9 (1.1) months for both Māori and Pasifika infants and 5.3 (0.8) months for other. 6.9% of Māori infants were introduced to CF before 4 months, 33.6% at 4 months, and 3.1% at 7 months. For Pasifika, the percentages were 9.8%, 24.4%, and 3.7%, respectively. For others, percentages were lower at <1%, 16.7%, and 1.8%, respectively. Using logistic regression analysis, Māori and Pasifika had higher odds of early CF introduction for infants with mothers whose highest education was secondary school (Māori: 3.8 ([95% CI] 1.5, 9.8); Pasifika: 3.3 (1.1, 10.3)). The odds of early CF introduction for other infants were higher for those with mothers whose highest education was secondary school (2.1 (1.2, 3.5)), who lived in areas of high deprivation (1.8 (1.0, 3.2)), and whose infant sex was male (1.7 (1.1, 2.9)). Parity was not associated with early CF introduction for any group. Most infants in all groups were introduced to CF between 4 and 6 months of age and over half at around 6 months of age. A small proportion of infants were introduced before 4 months. This research identifies groups that would benefit from more targeted infant feeding support.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9992/18/1/17infantMāoriPasifikacomplementary feedingethnicity |
| spellingShingle | Maria Casale Kathryn Beck Cathryn Conlon Lisa Te Morenga Jillian Haszard Anne-Louise Heath Rachael Taylor Pamela von Hurst Timing of Introduction to Complementary Foods in Māori, Pasifika, and Other Infants in Aotearoa New Zealand Medical Sciences Forum infant Māori Pasifika complementary feeding ethnicity |
| title | Timing of Introduction to Complementary Foods in Māori, Pasifika, and Other Infants in Aotearoa New Zealand |
| title_full | Timing of Introduction to Complementary Foods in Māori, Pasifika, and Other Infants in Aotearoa New Zealand |
| title_fullStr | Timing of Introduction to Complementary Foods in Māori, Pasifika, and Other Infants in Aotearoa New Zealand |
| title_full_unstemmed | Timing of Introduction to Complementary Foods in Māori, Pasifika, and Other Infants in Aotearoa New Zealand |
| title_short | Timing of Introduction to Complementary Foods in Māori, Pasifika, and Other Infants in Aotearoa New Zealand |
| title_sort | timing of introduction to complementary foods in maori pasifika and other infants in aotearoa new zealand |
| topic | infant Māori Pasifika complementary feeding ethnicity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9992/18/1/17 |
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