Patterns of Weaning and its Impact on Infants' Weight in a Rural Lower Egypt

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that inappropriate weaning of infants and young children was responsible for one-third of the cases of malnutrition worldwide. This study aimed to describe the weaning practices and its impact on infant weight. Consecutively, we enrolled 200 infants from 6 to 24 months of age coming for immunization or for follow up in rural area of Tokh district. Mothers were interviewed a closed-end interviewing questionnaire for demographic data about herself, her infant, data about weaning process and diseases may suffered during this period. There is high percentage of under nutrition among infants below two years. Mothers' age, weight of the child at birth, many siblings and exposure of infants to diarrhea and respiratory tract infections can affect the infant weight significantly during complementary feeding. However, further research on weaning practices and dietary assessment is required. Prevention and control of diarrheal disease should be done. Keywords: Weaning, breastfeeding, malnutrition, infant, growth.