title: Timing and Determinants of the Introduction of Complementary Foods in Kuwait: Results of a Prospective Cohort Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The early introduction of complementary foods is common in Middle Eastern countries but little is known about the determinants of this practice in this region.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This prospective cohort study conducted from October 2007 to October 2008 investigated the determinants of the very early (before 17 weeks) introduction of complementary foods in Kuwait and compared rates of this practice against rates reported in the mid-1990s.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 373 women were recruited from maternity hospitals in Kuwait City and followed to 26 weeks postpartum. Data on complementary feeding practices were available from 303 women. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the association of very early introduction of complementary foods with infant sex and maternal characteristics including age, years of education, employment intentions at 6 months postpartum, parity, prepregnancy body mass index, and prepregnancy smoking status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All infants had received complementary foods by 26 weeks of age, with 30.4% receiving complementary foods before 17 weeks of age. Women born in other Arabic countries were less likely to introduce complementary foods before 17 weeks (adjusted odds ratio [adj OR] = 0.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.22-0.73) than women born in Kuwait. Women who were exclusively formula feeding at 6 weeks postpartum were less likely to introduce complementary foods before 17 weeks (adj OR = 0.40; 95% CI, 0.23-0.71) than women who were still breastfeeding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to the mid-1990s, fewer infants in Kuwait were receiving complementary foods before 17 weeks. Nevertheless, all infants had received complementary foods by 6 months of age.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia jane.scott@curtin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jane A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Unit, Jaber Al-Ahmed Armed Forces Hospital, Ministry of Defense, Kuwait City, Kuwait Human Nutrition, School of Medicine, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Manal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dashti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Sughayer
authors.affiliation: Human Nutrition, School of Medicine, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D007225:Infant Food / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007730:Kuwait; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Kuwait; age of introduction; breastfeeding; complementary foods; determinants; indicators; solids