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Complementary Feeding Practices of Mothers and Their Perceived Impacts on Young Children: Findings from KEEA District of Ghana

Maternal and Child Health Journal volume 20, pages 1886–1894 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective Appropriate and timely complementary feeding practices are fundamental to a child’s growth, health, and development during the first 2 years of life. This study aimed to understand (1) Ghanaian mother’s complementary feeding practices, and (2) their perceived and observed impacts of complementary feeding on their children. Methods Ghanaian mothers with children 4–24 months of age were recruited from four communities in the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem district in the Central Region of Ghana (n = 99). A qualitative methodological approach with focus group interview discussions was used. Eleven focus group interviews were conducted, and were audio recorded and transcribed. The audio transcriptions were coded and analyzed into pertinent themes, meta-themes, and theoretical concepts. Results Over 80 % (85) of mothers reported poor knowledge about the effects of complementary feeding on their children and 45 % (45) of the children were undernourished, indicating inappropriate complementary feeding practices. Some mothers held misconceptions about the effect of food on children’s health. Four overarching themes were identified: (1) mothers’ background knowledge about food, child health and growth outcomes, (2) mothers’ motivation in feeding their children, (3) barriers to feeding, (4) foods mothers offered their children. Conclusion for Practice Nutrition education on complementary feeding is needed for Ghanaian mothers. Health facilities and community outreach programs could be a venue to provide education to mothers regarding infant and young child feeding practices in Ghana.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA, University of Idaho) and the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. We wish to thank Jonathan Prabeng, Lauren Keeney, and Ellison Shultz for their assistance in the data collection process and our families for their support.

Source of Funding

This project was partly funded by the researchers, the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA, University of Idaho) and the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences (University of Idaho).

Contributor Statement

The principal investigator was in charge of developing research instrument: demographic questionnaire, discussion guide and consent forms. She assisted in the organization and analysis of data. The co-authors supervised, reviewed and directed the entire project and assisted in the data collection process respectively.

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Affiliations

  1. School of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Idaho, Niccolls Bldg. Room 109B, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 3183, Moscow, ID, 83843-3183, USA

    Bridget K. Egyir & Samantha A. Ramsay

  2. University of Idaho, Blake House, Room 108, Moscow, ID, 83843, USA

    Barry Bilderback

  3. University of Idaho, 1031 N Academic Way Ste. 145, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 83814, USA

    SeAnne Safaii

Authors
  1. Bridget K. Egyir
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  2. Samantha A. Ramsay
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  3. Barry Bilderback
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  4. SeAnne Safaii
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Correspondence to Bridget K. Egyir.

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Egyir, B.K., Ramsay, S.A., Bilderback, B. et al. Complementary Feeding Practices of Mothers and Their Perceived Impacts on Young Children: Findings from KEEA District of Ghana. Matern Child Health J 20, 1886–1894 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-016-1994-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-016-1994-0

Keywords

  • Complementary feeding practices
  • Infant and young children
  • Ghana
  • Malnutrition
  • Ghanaian mothers