title: Breast-feeding and complementary feeding practices in the first 6 months of life among Norwegian-Somali and Norwegian-Iraqi infants: the InnBaKost survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine breast-feeding and complementary feeding practices during the first 6 months of life among Norwegian infants of Somali and Iraqi family origin.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was performed during March 2013-February 2014. Data were collected using a semi-quantitative FFQ adapted from the second Norwegian national dietary survey among infants in 2006-2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  Somali-born and Iraqi-born mothers living in eastern Norway were invited to participate.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and seven mothers/infants of Somali origin and eighty mothers/infants of Iraqi origin participated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Breast-feeding was almost universally initiated after birth. Only 7 % of Norwegian-Somali and 10 % of Norwegian-Iraqi infants were exclusively breast-fed at 4 months of age. By 1 month of age, water had been introduced to 30 % of Norwegian-Somali and 26 % of Norwegian-Iraqi infants, and infant formula to 44 % and 34 %, respectively. Fifty-four per cent of Norwegian-Somali and 68 % of Norwegian-Iraqi infants had been introduced to solid or semi-solid foods at 4 months of age. Breast-feeding at 6 months of age was more common among Norwegian-Somali infants (79 %) compared with Norwegian-Iraqi infants (58 %; P=0·001). Multivariate analyses indicated no significant factors associated with exclusive breast-feeding at 3·5 months of age. Factors positively associated with breast-feeding at 6 months were country of origin (Somalia) and parity (>2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breast-feeding initiation was common among Iraqi-born and Somali-born mothers, but the exclusive breast-feeding period was shorter than recommended in both groups. The study suggests that there is a need for new culture-specific approaches to support exclusive breast-feeding and complementary feeding practices among foreign-born mothers living in Norway.
authors.affiliation: 1Fafo Institute for Labour and Social Research,PO Box 2947 Tøyen,Oslo NO-0608,Norway.
authors.forename: Navnit Kaur
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Grewal
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Nutrition,Institute of Basic Medical Sciences,University of Oslo,Oslo,Norway.
authors.forename: Lene Frost
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: 3Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Departments of Anthropology and Nutritional Sciences,University of Toronto,Toronto,Ontario,Canada.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sellen
authors.affiliation: 4Department of Evidence Summaries,Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services,Oslo,Norway.
authors.forename: Annhild
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mosdøl
authors.affiliation: 5Department of Health,Nutrition and Management, Faculty of Health Sciences,Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences,Oslo,Norway.
authors.forename: Liv Elin
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Torheim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D041943:Infant Formula; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007493:Iraq / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D009664:Norway; D010298:Parity; D012998:Somalia / Q000208:ethnology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014867:Water; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014867:Water
keywords: Breast-feeding; Exclusive breast-feeding; Immigrants; Infant feeding