Feeding problems in a sample of children under 5 years at a primary health-care center in Erbil, Iraq

Background: The feeding issues of children under 5 years of life have effects on overall growth and development. Objectives: This study aimed to find out the prevalence of feeding problems and their associated factors among a sample of children under 5 years visiting a primary health-care center in...

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Main Authors: Faiza Jalil Ahmed, Karwan Hawez Sulaiman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2021-01-01
Series:Medical Journal of Babylon
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.medjbabylon.org/article.asp?issn=1812-156X;year=2021;volume=18;issue=1;spage=49;epage=53;aulast=Ahmed
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spelling doaj-f440c267bd134697a72f0ce1a9e5ca922021-03-31T07:32:16ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsMedical Journal of Babylon1812-156X2312-67602021-01-01181495310.4103/MJBL.MJBL_86_20Feeding problems in a sample of children under 5 years at a primary health-care center in Erbil, IraqFaiza Jalil AhmedKarwan Hawez SulaimanBackground: The feeding issues of children under 5 years of life have effects on overall growth and development. Objectives: This study aimed to find out the prevalence of feeding problems and their associated factors among a sample of children under 5 years visiting a primary health-care center in Erbil city. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the mothers who visited the primary health centers for the medical checkup of their children under 5 years were consecutively screened for the eligibility criteria between February 1, 2020, and June 30, 2020. Results: The children were located in the following age groups: 6–9 months (11.3%), 9–12 months (4.9%), 12–24 months (32.0%), and >24 months (51.7%). The children had an abnormal height for age (8.9%), weight for age (6.9%), and weight for height (14.3%). The prevalence of formula feeding was 49.0% in children. The prevalence of feeding problems was 75.9%, including mono-feeding (20.2%) and multi-feeding issues (55.7%). The prevalence of complementary food was 2.0% only. The prevalence of active feeding was 54.2%. The study showed that younger age group had a significantly higher prevalence of feeding problem (P < 0.001). The study showed that children with abnormal weight for age were more likely to have feeding problems compared to those with a normal weight for age (100% vs. 74.1%, P = 0.019), respectively. Conclusions: The present study showed that a considerable percentage of children have feeding issues. The feeding issues were higher in younger age groups.http://www.medjbabylon.org/article.asp?issn=1812-156X;year=2021;volume=18;issue=1;spage=49;epage=53;aulast=Ahmedbreastfeedingchildrennutritionpediatric population
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Faiza Jalil Ahmed
Karwan Hawez Sulaiman
spellingShingle Faiza Jalil Ahmed
Karwan Hawez Sulaiman
Feeding problems in a sample of children under 5 years at a primary health-care center in Erbil, Iraq
Medical Journal of Babylon
breastfeeding
children
nutrition
pediatric population
author_facet Faiza Jalil Ahmed
Karwan Hawez Sulaiman
author_sort Faiza Jalil Ahmed
title Feeding problems in a sample of children under 5 years at a primary health-care center in Erbil, Iraq
title_short Feeding problems in a sample of children under 5 years at a primary health-care center in Erbil, Iraq
title_full Feeding problems in a sample of children under 5 years at a primary health-care center in Erbil, Iraq
title_fullStr Feeding problems in a sample of children under 5 years at a primary health-care center in Erbil, Iraq
title_full_unstemmed Feeding problems in a sample of children under 5 years at a primary health-care center in Erbil, Iraq
title_sort feeding problems in a sample of children under 5 years at a primary health-care center in erbil, iraq
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
series Medical Journal of Babylon
issn 1812-156X
2312-6760
publishDate 2021-01-01
description Background: The feeding issues of children under 5 years of life have effects on overall growth and development. Objectives: This study aimed to find out the prevalence of feeding problems and their associated factors among a sample of children under 5 years visiting a primary health-care center in Erbil city. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the mothers who visited the primary health centers for the medical checkup of their children under 5 years were consecutively screened for the eligibility criteria between February 1, 2020, and June 30, 2020. Results: The children were located in the following age groups: 6–9 months (11.3%), 9–12 months (4.9%), 12–24 months (32.0%), and >24 months (51.7%). The children had an abnormal height for age (8.9%), weight for age (6.9%), and weight for height (14.3%). The prevalence of formula feeding was 49.0% in children. The prevalence of feeding problems was 75.9%, including mono-feeding (20.2%) and multi-feeding issues (55.7%). The prevalence of complementary food was 2.0% only. The prevalence of active feeding was 54.2%. The study showed that younger age group had a significantly higher prevalence of feeding problem (P < 0.001). The study showed that children with abnormal weight for age were more likely to have feeding problems compared to those with a normal weight for age (100% vs. 74.1%, P = 0.019), respectively. Conclusions: The present study showed that a considerable percentage of children have feeding issues. The feeding issues were higher in younger age groups.
topic breastfeeding
children
nutrition
pediatric population
url http://www.medjbabylon.org/article.asp?issn=1812-156X;year=2021;volume=18;issue=1;spage=49;epage=53;aulast=Ahmed
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