title: Feeding of young children during diarrhea: caregivers' intended practices and perceptions.
abstract: Childhood diarrhea is an important cause of malnutrition, which can be worsened when caretakers limit nutritional support. We queried 390 caregivers and their children in a peri-urban community in Lima, Peru regarding general perceptions of feeding and feeding practices during diarrhea. Overall, 22.1% of caregivers perceived feeding during diarrhea to be harmful. At baseline, 71.9% of caregivers would discontinue normal feeding or give less food. Most would withhold milk, eggs, and meats. Approximately 40% of caregivers would withhold vegetables and fruits. A pilot educational intervention was performed to improve feeding during diarrhea. At follow-up survey 3 months later, none of the caregivers would recommend withholding food. Only 23.2% would recommend discontinuing normal feeding and 1.8% perceived food to be damaging. Misperceptions of the role of feeding during diarrhea pose a significant health risk for children, but a simple educational intervention might have a major impact on these perceptions and practices.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru; University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, Texas; Instituto de Investigación Nutricional, Lima, Peru; Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain birte.pantenburg@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Birte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pantenburg
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru; University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, Texas; Instituto de Investigación Nutricional, Lima, Peru; Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Theresa J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ochoa
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru; University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, Texas; Instituto de Investigación Nutricional, Lima, Peru; Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ecker
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru; University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, Texas; Instituto de Investigación Nutricional, Lima, Peru; Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Joaquim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruiz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001942:Breast Feeding; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005502:Food / Q000145:classification; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006701:Home Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
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