title: Infant-feeding practices in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates.
abstract: A survey was conducted to study the practices of infant-feeding and the influencing factors in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates. It involved 375 mothers of different nationalities and backgrounds and 300 healthy infants. The mothers were interviewed at four primary health care clinics in Al-Ain. Results showed that 46% of infants were breastfed for 4-6 months. The mother's nationality and her educational status were significant influences on the mother's decision to exclusively breast-feed the infant, for how long and when to introduce supplementary food. Fresh cow and goat milk were the most common supplements. Inclusion of baby formula as a supplement generally occurred early, perhaps because of advertising and the affluence in Al-Ain.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: el-Sabban
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003657:Decision Making; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014479:United Arab Emirates; D014886:Weaning