Study of Weaning Practices among Mothers of Children less than One year of Age in Slum area of Multan

Abstract

Background: Weaning is the key to the proper growth and development of a child. Mothers must do proper weaning practices in order to prevent malnutrition and infection in children.

Objective: To determine the weaning practice among mothers with infants aged 6 months to one year of age, and causes of delayed weaning.

Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among the residents of the slum area of Jahangirabad, Multan, from 31^st March to 25^th May 2018. A close-ended questionnaire was used for collecting data from 85 mothers using non-probability convenient sampling technique. Frequency and percentages were calculated for qualitative variables like education, occupation, socio-economic status, the start of weaning time. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.

Results: Mothers who started weaning of their children at age of 6 months and above were 91%. Mothers who felt their milk was enough for the baby were only 37%. Mothers using marketed food for weaning were, 48 %. Illiterate mothers were, 45%. Those who were doing weaning less than 6 times per day were 98%. Families belonging to low socioeconomic status were, 61%. On applying the chi-square test there was no significant association found between the start of weaning time and mother's education (p=0.3) or occupation (p=0.3).

Conclusion: A large proportion of children's population has started weaning above 6 months of age. There was no significant association found between the start of weaning time with the mother’s education and occupation.