title: Adherence to complementary feeding recommendations for infants and implications for public health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The current study investigates (i) the extent to which breast-feeding and non-breast-feeding mothers follow the Canadian Nutrition for Healthy Term Infants (NHTI) recommendations; (ii) the first complementary foods given and the differences by breast-feeding status; (iii) whether any breast-feeding is associated with earlier introduction to complementary foods relative to non-breast-feeding, after controlling for potentially confounding factors; and (iv) the need for improvements in timing and resources of interventions by examining breast-feeding rates over time and information sources used by mothers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal data from the Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) Infant Feeding Survey were used. Mothers completed a survey at the end of their hospital stay and were interviewed by telephone at 2, 4, 6 and 12 months thereafter.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study took place in the KFL&A region of Ontario, Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 325 mothers who gave birth to a live infant of at least 36 weeks' gestation and a birth weight of at least 1500 g at Kingston General Hospital between January and July of 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four in five mothers introduced complementary foods prior to 6 months. Mothers not breast-feeding at 6 months introduced water, juice, infant cereals, fruit and vegetables, and foods not recommended by Canada's Food Guide sooner than breast-feeding mothers. Breast-feeding mothers were more likely to introduce milks appropriately, but had low adherence to giving their infants vitamin D supplements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To support adherence to NHTI recommendations, interventions should be conducted during early infancy and deliver consistent, evidence-based recommendations.
authors.affiliation: 1Knowledge Management,KFL&A Public Health,221 Portsmouth Avenue,Kingston,Ontario,Canada,K7M 1V5.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fegan
authors.affiliation: 1Knowledge Management,KFL&A Public Health,221 Portsmouth Avenue,Kingston,Ontario,Canada,K7M 1V5.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bassett
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Public Health Sciences,Queen's University,Kingston,Ontario,Canada.
authors.forename: Yingwei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: 1Knowledge Management,KFL&A Public Health,221 Portsmouth Avenue,Kingston,Ontario,Canada,K7M 1V5.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Steel O'Connor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009035:Mothers; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009864:Ontario; D016487:Parenting; D011634:Public Health; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Breast-feeding; Complementary food; Infant; Infant feeding; NHTI recommendations; Public health