Knowledge and Practices of Mothers with Children Aged 6-24 Months on Weaning, Attending Services Hospital Lahore, Pakistan

Wizra Faiz; Zahra Fayyaz; Zahra Fayyaz; Yamna Najib; Abdul Rehman; Sana Noreen; Muhammad Hamza Bin Abdul Malik; Ayesha Sadiqa; Rabia  Kanwal

doi:10.53992/njns.v7i1.91

Authors

Wizra Faiz Department of Medicine, Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
Zahra Fayyaz Department of Community Medicine, Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
Zahra Fayyaz Department of Community Medicine, Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
Yamna Najib University Institute of Diet and Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, The University of Lahore, Pakistan
Abdul Rehman Department of Medicine, Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
Sana Noreen University Institute of Diet and Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, The University of Lahore, Pakistan
Muhammad Hamza Bin Abdul Malik Department of Medicine, Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
Ayesha Sadiqa Department of Pathology, Fatima Jinnah Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan
Rabia Kanwal University Institute of Diet and Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, The University of Lahore, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53992/njns.v7i1.91

Keywords:

Assessment, Complementary feeding, Weaning, Pediatrics, breast-feeding, Practices, Knowledge

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the weaning knowledge, practices, and influencing factors. Methods: Questionnaires were filled from 315 mothers with children aged 06-24 months, who visited Pediatrics OPD Services Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan in 4 months. The weaning knowledge and practices of the respondents were evaluated by using a pre-tested questionnaire. Chi-square test was used to assess the associations between the variables. It was ranked as good, satisfactory, and poor based on the gross sum total. Results: The overall knowledge of weaning was good in 159 (50.5%) mothers and 133 (42.2%) had satisfactory knowledge. Whereas the practices of 152 (48.3%) mothers out of 315 were good but poor in 46 (14.6%) of the mothers. There is a statistically significant association between the knowledge and practices of weaning with the age of babies (p values= 0.000 and 0.000, respectively) and the total number of children of the respondents (p-values= 0.000 and 0.000, respectively). Residential status of respondents (p-value=0.028) and educational status of mothers (p-values= 0.01) also showed a significant association with the overall knowledge of mothers. Practices and knowledge of mothers (p-values=0.02 and p-value= 0.026 respectively) are statistically significant with the source of information and weaning practices. We also found an association with the type of family of the respondent (p-value=0.034). Conclusion: The findings of this study will be helpful in making strategies of awareness programs so that the effects of pre-or post-weaning can be minimized.