title: Influence of weaning timing advice and associated weaning behaviours in a survey of black and minority ethnic groups in the UK.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess understanding of the Department of Health weaning guidelines and weaning influences in a self-selected sample of black and minority ethnic (BME) parents, residing in London.
  
  
  METHODS
  A face-to-face, questionnaire-facilitated survey among Black African, Black Caribbean and South Asian parents.
  
  
  METHODS
  An opportunistic sample of parents was recruited from Sure Start centres, churches and play groups across key London boroughs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and forty-nine interviews were included; 107 Black African, fifty-four Black Caribbean, 120 South Asian and sixty-four of Black mixed-race ethnicity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-two per cent of Black and 66 % of South Asian parents had accurate understanding of the guidelines. Inaccurate knowledge of the guidelines was associated with weaning before 17 weeks (P < 0·001); 36 % of Black Africans and 31 % of Black Caribbeans were weaned before 4 months compared with 16 % of South Asians. All BME groups were most influenced by weaning information from the previous generations of mothers in their families, which was associated with earlier weaning (21·5 (SD 6·5) v. 24·1 (SD 4·2) weeks; F(2,328) = 5·79, P = 0·003), and less so by professional infant feeding advice, which was associated with a later weaning age (23·7 (SD 5·1) v. 20·7 (SD 5·7) weeks; F(1,344) = 34·7, P < 0·001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lack of awareness of the Department of Health weaning guidelines is common among these BME populations, whose weaning behaviour is strongly influenced by informal advice. Further research is necessary to elucidate the influences on weaning in these populations and to facilitate the development of infant feeding support which is salient for BME groups in the UK.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences Division,School of Medicine,King's College London,Franklin-Wilkins Building,Room 4.10,Stamford Street,London SE1 9NH,UK.
authors.forename: Amanda P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences Division,School of Medicine,King's College London,Franklin-Wilkins Building,Room 4.10,Stamford Street,London SE1 9NH,UK.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nanthagopan
authors.affiliation: Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences Division,School of Medicine,King's College London,Franklin-Wilkins Building,Room 4.10,Stamford Street,London SE1 9NH,UK.
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.affiliation: Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences Division,School of Medicine,King's College London,Franklin-Wilkins Building,Room 4.10,Stamford Street,London SE1 9NH,UK.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Milligan
authors.affiliation: Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences Division,School of Medicine,King's College London,Franklin-Wilkins Building,Room 4.10,Stamford Street,London SE1 9NH,UK.
authors.forename: Louise M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Goff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000208:ethnology; D005248:Feeding Methods; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D054525:Minority Health / Q000208:ethnology; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D006113:United Kingdom; D014886:Weaning / Q000208:ethnology; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
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