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  • Title: Infant feeding practices and associated factors through the first 9 months of life in Bavaria, Germany.
    Author: Rebhan B, Kohlhuber M, Schwegler U, Koletzko BV, Fromme H.
    Journal: J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr; 2009 Oct; 49(4):467-73. PubMed ID: 19581814.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVES: To investigate infant feeding and breast-feeding practices during the first 9 months of life in Bavaria, Germany, in relation to recommendations and to identify factors associated with early feeding of semisolid food. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 3103 infants throughout Bavaria, Germany, were collected in a prospective cohort study. Questionnaires were administered at the age of 6 days, and 2, 4, 6, and 9 months. RESULTS: There was a considerable variety concerning the time when complementary feeding was introduced. Only 16.4% of the infants ate solid/semisolid food before the age of 5 months. Most of the infants received as their first solid food a mash of vegetable, meat, and potato. Compared to national guidelines fluids were introduced early. More than 37% of the breast-fed infants received additional fluids/formula. The strongest risk factor associated with complementary feeding before the fifth month was breast-feeding duration of less than 4 months (any breast-feeding) with an odds ratio of 8.57 (95% confidence interval 6.16-11.94). Other factors were low level of education, young age of the mother, smoking habit of the mother, and mother not being born in Germany. CONCLUSIONS: Further improvements in nutrition of infants may be achieved in 2 ways: promotion of breast-feeding according to current recommendations and better counselling on the correct timing of introduction of semisolid food-especially for parents of not- or short-time breast-fed babies and focused on young mothers with low levels of education.
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