title: Exploring why junk foods are 'essential' foods and how culturally tailored recommendations improved feeding in Egyptian children.
abstract: In Egypt, the double burden of malnutrition and rising overweight and obesity in adults mirrors the transition to westernized diets and a growing reliance on energy-dense, low-nutrient foods. This study utilized the trials of improved practices (TIPs) methodology to gain an understanding of the cultural beliefs and perceptions related to feeding practices of infants and young children 0-23 months of age and used this information to work in tandem with 150 mothers to implement feasible solutions to feeding problems in Lower and Upper Egypt. The study triangulated in-depth interviews (IDIs) with mothers participating in TIPs, with IDIs with 40 health providers, 40 fathers and 40 grandmothers to gain an understanding of the influence and importance of the role of other caretakers and health providers in supporting these feeding practices. Study findings reveal high consumption of junk foods among toddlers, increasing in age and peaking at 12-23 months of age. Sponge cakes and sugary biscuits are not perceived as harmful and considered 'ideal' common complementary foods. Junk foods and beverages often compensate for trivial amounts of food given. Mothers are cautious about introducing nutritious foods to young children because of fears of illness and inability to digest food. Although challenges in feeding nutritious foods exist, mothers were able to substitute junk foods with locally available and affordable foods. Future programming should build upon cultural considerations learned in TIPs to address sustainable, meaningful changes in infant and young child feeding to reduce junk foods and increase dietary quality, quantity and frequency.
authors.affiliation: PATH, Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.|Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program (MCHIP), Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
authors.forename: Justine A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kavle
authors.affiliation: Social Research Center, American University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Sohair
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mehanna
authors.affiliation: SMART Project, Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program (MCHIP), Cairo, Egypt.|National Nutrition Institute of Egypt, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Gulsen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saleh
authors.affiliation: National Nutrition Institute of Egypt, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mervat A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fouad
authors.affiliation: National Nutrition Institute of Egypt, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramzy
authors.affiliation: National Nutrition Institute of Egypt, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Doaa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hamed
authors.affiliation: Social Research Center, American University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Department of Prevention and Community Health, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
authors.forename: Ghada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: PATH, Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.|Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program (MCHIP), Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
authors.forename: Rae
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Galloway
mesh_terms: D001628:Beverages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054521:Cultural Competency; D003469:Culture; D004032:Diet; D004534:Egypt; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers
keywords: breastfeeding; child feeding; child public health; complementary foods; infant and child nutrition; practices