Developmental and food profiles of infants born to adolescent and adult mothers.
OBJECTIVE
To compare developmental markers and dietary intake of infants born to lower socioeconomic adolescent and adult mothers.


METHODS
Sixty-one adolescent (age 14-18 years) and 60 adult (age 22-28 years) mothers met inclusion criteria of comparable socioeconomic status, age range, urban/rural residence, and distribution of infants by gender.


METHODS
Adolescent subjects were recruited in last trimester and adult mothers postpartum. Interviews were conducted when infants were about 6 and 12 months of age. Data included age of occurrence for eight markers, age at adding complementary foods, two 24-h dietary recalls, and two measurements of growth.


RESULTS
Adolescent mothers reported a significantly earlier age at which the infant "holds a spoon by self" and "drinks alone from a trainer cup." Six other markers were not significantly different between groups. Adolescent mothers fed cereal significantly earlier than did adult mothers, but there were no significant differences for fruit, vegetables, and meat. At 12 months, infants of adolescents had intakes of vitamin D and iron which were < 100% of recommended allowances, as did infants of adult mothers for vitamin D, iron, and zinc. Dietary fat was significantly higher at 6 and 12 months and vitamin C was lower at 12 months for infants of adolescents compared to the adult group.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared to adult mothers, adolescent mothers reported earlier mean ages for developmental markers related to self-feeding, and introduced cereal earlier. In each group, selected nutrient intakes decreased from recommended amounts in the 6-12-month period. Fat intakes were significantly different between groups at 6 and 12 months.
Carruth
B R
BR
University of Tennesse-Knoxville, USA.
Nevling
W
W
Skinner
J D
JD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002657:Child Development; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009753:Nutritive Value; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000523:psychology*; D012016:Reference Values
D004041:Dietary Fats