Do Parents Follow Breastfeeding and Weaning Recommendations Given by Pediatric Nurses? A Study With Emphasis on Introduction of Cow’s Milk Protein in Allergy Risk Families

doi:10.1016/j.pedhc.2006.05.007

Journal of Pediatric Health Care

Volume 21, Issue 4, July–August 2007, Pages 238-244

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedhc.2006.05.007 Get rights and content

Abstract

Introduction

The aim of this study was to retrospectively examine weaning practices during the first year of life in a representative sample of Swedish children and how parents with a history of atopy introduced milk protein in their infant’s diet.

Methods

Data were derived from 467 infants visiting Child Health Centers in three different counties in Sweden for a health check up at 12 months of age.

Results

The children were breastfed for an average of 7 months (range, 0.2-15 months), and 18% were still breastfed at the age of 12 months. Few infants had received solid food before the age of 4 months (6%) or after the age of 6 months (12%). Cow’s milk protein was introduced in disagreement with the current recommendation for children at risk of developing atopy.

Conclusion

Breastfeeding and weaning recommendations seem to be followed by most families. The creation of routines for the distribution of information concerning weaning foods should be encouraged in order to reach families with special needs; otherwise, implementation of current recommendations and preventive strategies will be less useful.

Section snippets

Aim

The aim of the current study was to examine weaning practices retrospectively during the first year in a representative sample of Swedish children. A secondary aim was to study how parents with a history of atopy introduced milk protein in their infants’ diets.

Subjects

The areas included in this study were the city of Göteborg (471,000 habitants) and the counties of Bohuslän (205,500 habitants) and Dalarna (276,700 habitants). The population in these areas corresponds to 10% of the total Swedish population and includes both urban and rural areas. The study was performed during a 2-year period.

The information given to parents by the pediatric nurses during the child’s first year includes recommendations concerning introduction of food items with consideration

Results

Out of 574 distributed questionnaires, 472 were returned (Göteborg, 138/170; North and South Bohuslän, 166/206; Dalarna, 168/198). Ten parents declined answering the questionnaire, the main reason being lack of time. The highest nonparticipation rate was found in the northern part of Bohuslän (35%). The main reason was shortage of staff and children fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Five questionnaires were excluded because of the children’s young age (less than 6 months), leaving 467

Discussion

Our study shows that the majority of parents follow breastfeeding and weaning recommendations; based on this information, we might conclude that the traditional method of informing parents through personal counseling and group education by pediatric nurses at Child Health Centers is successful. However, subanalysis shows that a higher number of infants with family hypersensitivity had received formula containing milk protein and solids earlier than recommended. These results imply that it is

A. Mikkelsen is Dietitian, Primary Health Care Services of the City of Göteborg and Department of Primary Health Care, the Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg, Sweden.

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Em 2008 a ESPGHAN publicou recomendações sobre diversificação alimentar para os profissionais de saúde. Fatores socioeconómicos e culturais podem, no entanto, afetar o cumprimento destas orientações.
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A. Mikkelsen is Dietitian, Primary Health Care Services of the City of Göteborg and Department of Primary Health Care, the Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg, Sweden.

L. Rinné-Ljungqvist is Registered Nurse, Primary Health Care Services of Partille.

M. P. Borres, MD, PhD, Phadia AB, Uppsala, and Department of Pediatrics, the Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden.

Jenny van Odijk is Dietitian, Department of Clinical Nutrition, the Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Asthma and Allergy Research Group, Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.

: This study was performed with the financial support of Swedish Asthma and Allergy Associations Research Foundation and The Vårdal Foundation for Health Care Sciences and Allergy Research.

View full text

Original articleDo Parents Follow Breastfeeding and Weaning Recommendations Given by Pediatric Nurses? A Study With Emphasis on Introduction of Cow’s Milk Protein in Allergy Risk Families

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Section snippets

Aim

Subjects

Results

Discussion

Pediatric Clinics of North America

Journal of the American Dietetic Association

Journal of Pediatric Health Care

Patient Education and Counseling

Näringslära för högskolan

Beliefs concerning dietary practices during pregnancy and lactationA qualitative study among Iranian women residing in Sweden

Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences

What influences the timing of the introduction of solid food to infants?

The British Journal of Nutrition

Why do parents hesitate to vaccinate their children against measles, mumps and rubella?

Acta Pediatrica

Child health-centre-based promotion of a tobacco-free environment—a Swedish case study

Health Promotion International

Infant botulism and honey in Europe: A commentary

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal

Vilka är källorna till våra näringsämnen?

Vår Föda

Acquired methemoglobinemia: A case report

Medical and Surgical Pediatrics

Online pediatric information seeking among mothers of young children: Results from a qualitative study using focus groups

Journal of Medical Internet Research

Weaning of infants

Archives of Disease in Childhood

Common feeding problems in babies and children: 2

Professional Care of Mother and Child

Disseminating weaning messages: An intervention trial

British Journal of Community Nursing

Choice of food and food traditions in pre-war Bosnia-Herzegovina: Focus group interviews with immigrant women in Sweden

Ethnic Health

Original article
Do Parents Follow Breastfeeding and Weaning Recommendations Given by Pediatric Nurses? A Study With Emphasis on Introduction of Cow’s Milk Protein in Allergy Risk Families