title: Complementary feeding patterns in a developing country: a cross-sectional study across Lebanon.
abstract: This first, large-scale study on complementary feeding in Lebanon analysed the timing and types of food introduced to infants according to mothers' demographic and socioeconomic and infants' characteristics. A cross-sectional survey over 10 months found that the majority of infants were introduced to solid foods at or after 4 months of age. A large number of infants were given liquids other than breast or formula milk earlier. Women in employment outside the home were almost twice as likely to introduce solid foods before age 4 months. The most common starting food was cereals. More than half the children consumed starchy foods and fruits every day, but not meats and fish.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottaowa, Ontario, Canada. malek.batal@uottawa.ca
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Batal
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boulghourjian
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Akik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007861:Lebanon; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014886:Weaning; D014931:Women, Working / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data