KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES OF PARENTS OF CHILDREN AGED 6-12 MONTHS ABOUT COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING: CHALLENGES FOR HEALTHCARE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12957/demetra.2019.43550Keywords:
Complementary Feeding. Child Nutrition. Child Care.Abstract
This study aimed to identify the knowledge and practices of parents of children aged 6-12 months, about complementary feeding and factors that influence their behavior. This research used the theoretical-methodological framework of the Theory of Planned Behavior and a qualitative and exploratory approach through two techniques: focal group with mothers and in-depth interviews with fathers, whose children received healthcare in either a public health service or a private pediatric clinic. Content analysis was performed, based on the empirical data collected from the recorded and transcribed reports. The following categories were identified: Beliefs, opinions and attitudes, reorganized according to how they relate to the recommendations of the Ministry of Health, included in the Food Guide For Children Younger Than 2 Years; Formal and informal influences on complementary feeding practices; and Role of socioeconomic factors. It was concluded that the behaviors of parents are the result of the complex interaction between their beliefs, social pressures and the perception of their competence to feed their children, and that they have all types of dilemmas and doubt, regardless of their sociocultural background. Pediatricians and other health professionals are less and less of a reference compared to informal influences, which can directly affect children's eating practices. Guidance on complementary feeding need to be contextualized to be in line with the socioeconomic status of parents, and the Internet should be used by reliable sources for dissemination of knowledge.
DOI: 10.12957/demetra.2019.43550
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