| Learning Objective #1: Increase the initiation and duration of breastfeeding during the economic crisis | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Protect infants' health from early introduction of solid foods(before four months old) |
Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the infant feeding patterns during the economic crisis in Thailand. Design: Purposive sampling was done. Population, Sample, Setting, Year: Mothers or caregivers with infants < 1 year old in Bangkok (urban community) and Ayutthaya Province (rural community) were recruited between January and August 2000. Concept or Variables studied together or intervention and outcome variables: Appropriate infant feeding patterns could protect infants’ health and promote nutritional status. Methods: Four hundred mothers or caregivers with infants <1 year old were interviewed by questionnaires. Growth assessment was performed by measuring infants’ weights and heights. Health education program was administered individually for parents or caregivers with inappropriate infant feeding patterns. Finding: One hundred and thirty six (34.0%) infants were < 4 months old and 264 (66.0%) infants were > or = 4 months old. For infants, < 4 months old, 52 (38.2%) mothers still have been exclusive breastfeeding. Eighty four (61.8%) infants were breastfeeding and formula fed. For infants > or = 4 months old, eighty (30.3%) infants were breastfed < 4 months old (Mean = 1.756, SD = 0.904). However, 107 (40.5%) mothers have been breastfeeding > or = 4 months old. Five (1.9%) infants were fed by condensed milk. The dilution of formula was incorrect 9.8%. The early introduction of solid foods (before 4 months old) was 37.3% (Mean = 2.149, SD = 0.739). Two (0.5%) infants have been the first degree malnutrition. Conclusions: The relationships between unemployed mothers and the duration of breastfeeding and reduced salaries of families and inappropriate infant feeding patterns were statistically significant differences (P < 0.001). Implications: In the economic crisis, mothers who were unemployed could increase the initiation and duration of breastfeeding and play an important role to feed their baby appropriately rather than grandmothers or relatives.
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Back to 14th International Nursing Research Congress
Sigma Theta Tau International
10-12 July 2003