Consumption of highly processed snacks, sugar‐sweetened beverages and child feeding practices in a rural area of N icaragua

Bibliographic Data

ID15535751
AuthorsMariela Contreras (0000-0002-6376-2219, Uppsala University, corresponding author), Elmer Zelaya Blandón (Universidad Internacional Para el Desarrollo Sostenible), Lars Ake Persson (0000-0003-0710-7954, Uppsala University), Lars‐Åke Persson (Department of Women's and Children's Health Uppsala University Uppsala Sweden), Eva‐Charlotte Ekström (0000-0001-5464-7756, Uppsala University)
Year2014
Volume12
Issue1
Pages164-176
Publication date2014-08-19
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMaternal and Child Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1740-8695 • E-ISSN: 1740-8709
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/mcn.12144
PMID25134722
OpenAlexW2149179916
LanguageEN
Citations received11
References cited26

Appropriate feeding behaviours are important for child growth and development. In societies undergoing nutrition transition, new food items are introduced that may be unfavourable for child health. Set in rural Nicaragua, the aim of this study was to describe the infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices as well as the consumption of highly processed snack foods (HP snacks) and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). All households with at least one child 0- to 35-month-old (n = 1371) were visited to collect information on current IYCF practices in the youngest child as well as consumption of SSBs and HP snacks. Breastfeeding was dominant (98%) among 0- to 1-month-olds and continued to be prevalent (60%) in the second year, while only 34% of the 0- to 5-month-olds were exclusively breastfed. Complementary feeding practices were deemed acceptable for only 59% of the 6- to 11-month-old infants, with low dietary diversity reported for 50% and inadequate meal frequency reported for 30%. Consumption of HP snacks and SSBs was frequent and started early; among 6- to 8-month-olds, 42% and 32% had consumed HP snacks and SSBs, respectively. The difference between the observed IYCF behaviours and World Health Organization recommendations raises concern of increased risk of infections and insufficient intake of micronutrients that may impair linear growth. The concurrent high consumption of SSBs and HP snacks may increase the risk of displacing the recommended feeding behaviours. To promote immediate and long-term health, growth and development, there is a need to both promote recommended IYCF practices as well as discourage unfavourable feeding behaviours

Agriculture · Breast feeding · Breastfeeding · Consumption (sociology · Dietary diversity · Environmental health · Food security · Geography · Meal · Micronutrient · Serving size · Breastfeeding Practices and Influences · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Medicine · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Pediatrics

Tools

Open DOISci-HubOpen Access