Awareness of Sudanese Citizens about the Benefits of Breastfeeding compared to Formula in Khartoum State, Sudan

Background: There are a major differences between breastfeeding and formula feeding. Therefore, it’s essential for expectants and new parents to be aware of such variations, as its important determinants of infant feeding behavior. This study aimed to construct a solid foundation on the awareness and perception regarding breastfeeding verses packed formulas among the locals. Additionally, we wished to identify any possible misconceptions about their benefits.Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study, carried out during the months of July and August 2020 at Khartoum state, Sudan. The target population was all Sudanese citizens of both genders, aged 18 and above, who’ve agreed to participate in this study, respondents who’ve missed any of the aforesaid criteria were excluded. Results: Among our study respondents (n=905), 464 (51.27%) were female and 409 (45.19%) were married. Two hundred and eleven (23.31%) had 1-2 children and 422 (46.63%) held a bachelor’s degree. The mean awareness score was 10.88 (SD: 2.25, range: 0-15), suggesting an overall 72.53% (10.88/15*100) correct rate on this awareness test. Awareness scores significantly differed across genders, age-groups, marital status, education levels, and places of residence (P<0.05). Most of our sample (97.35%) agreed that breastfeeding is the ideal nutrition for infants <6 months old. Five hundred and ninety (65.19%) were aware that breastfeeding reduces the mortality rate of infants, and 712 (78.67%) of the participants answered correctly that breastfeeding decreases the maternal risk of breast and ovarian cancer.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the general awareness on this topic needs further improvement and more attention.

Awareness of Sudanese Citizens about the Benefits of Breastfeeding compared to Formula in Khartoum State, Sudan

BackgroundThere are a major differences between breastfeeding and formula feeding. Therefore, it’s essential for expectants and new parents to be aware of such variations, as its important determinants of infant feeding behavior. This study aimed to construct a solid foundation on the awareness and perception regarding breastfeeding verses packed formulas among the locals. Additionally, we wished to identify any possible misconceptions about their benefits.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional descriptive study, carried out during the months of July and August 2020 at Khartoum state, Sudan. The target population was all Sudanese citizens of both genders, aged 18 and above, who’ve agreed to participate in this study, respondents who’ve missed any of the aforesaid criteria were excluded. ResultsAmong our study respondents (n=905), 464 (51.27%) were female and 409 (45.19%) were married. Two hundred and eleven (23.31%) had 1-2 children and 422 (46.63%) held a bachelor’s degree. The mean awareness score was 10.88 (SD: 2.25, range: 0-15), suggesting an overall 72.53% (10.88/15*100) correct rate on this awareness test. Awareness scores significantly differed across genders, age-groups, marital status, education levels, and places of residence (P<0.05). Most of our sample (97.35%) agreed that breastfeeding is the ideal nutrition for infants <6 months old. Five hundred and ninety (65.19%) were aware that breastfeeding reduces the mortality rate of infants, and 712 (78.67%) of the participants answered correctly that breastfeeding decreases the maternal risk of breast and ovarian cancer.ConclusionOur findings suggest that the general awareness on this topic needs further improvement and more attention.

THE ROLE OF THE OBESOGENIC ENVIRONMENT AND PARENTAL LIFESTYLES IN INFANT FEEDING BEHAVIOR

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify the role of the obesogenic environment and parental lifestyles in infant feeding behavior. Data sources: The searches were performed in PubMed, Medline, Cochrane, Lilacs and Scielo databases, in Portuguese, English and Spanish. The descriptors used were found in the Medical Subject Headings and in the Descriptors in Health Sciences being these: Comportamento alimentar/Feeding Behavior/ Conducta Alimentaria; Crianças/Child/ Niño; Relações familiares/Family Relations/Relaciones Familiares; e Ecologia/ Ecology/ Ecología. These were combined by the Boolean operator AND. Data synthesis: Researchers consider that parents (orprimary caregivers) are responsible, in part, for the unhealthy eating behavior presented by children, and for them to change it is necessary to change the behavior of the family, ensuring the correct choice of food and the practice of physical activity. The family environment has a significant impact on the development of eating behavior, so adults should provide a good model of this behavior for children. Conclusions: It was verified through this review that, in order to maintain and develop a healthy eating behavior, it is necessary to reach different spheres of life of the individual - physical, social, psychological, family, cultural and mediatic environment.

Parental feeding practices and their relation to child eating behavior: Problems for explanation / Prácticas alimentarias parentales y su relación con la conducta alimentaria infantil: Problemas para la explicación

Parental feeding practices influence the learning of healthy eating since childhood. But the lack of clear descriptions and inconsistent terminology of such practices hampers the understanding of their influence on such learning. From a selected review of scientific articles that included descriptions of parental feeding practices and relationships with any aspect of children's eating behavior, we analyzed the behavioral descriptions stated in literature during the last decade (2006-2016) with the purpose to clarify relations among these and the children’s eating behavior. The results were categorized based on the relationships between feeding practices and the challenges in infant feeding behavior such as acceptance of new foods, development of food preferences, and food self-regulation. The results reflect some practices associated with both desirable and undesirable children’s eating behavior. Confusion in terminology and lack of consistency in behavioral descriptions of parental feeding practices and explanations of the mechanisms of such practices are still unknown. Some considerations are proposed for future research. Resumen Desde la infancia, las prácticas alimentarias parentales (PAP) influyen en el aprendizaje del comer saludablemente. Sin embargo, la terminología inconsistente y la falta de descripciones claras de las PAP obstaculizan la comprensión de su influencia en dicho aprendizaje. A partir de una revisión selectiva de artículos científicos que incluyeron descripciones de las PAP y su relación con algún aspecto de la conducta alimentaria infantil (CAI), se buscó analizar las descripciones conductuales planteadas en la literatura durante la última década (2006-2016), con el propósito de clarificar las relaciones documentadas entre éstas y la CAI. Los resultados fueron categorizados a partir de las relaciones planteadas entre las PAP y algunos de los retos principales que el tópico de la CAI, como son: la aceptación de alimentos nuevos, el desarrollo de preferencias alimentarias y la autorregulación alimentaria. Los resultados reflejan algunas PAP asociadas tanto a conductas alimentarias deseables como indeseables para la salud de los niños. La confusión en la terminología y la falta de consistencia en las descripciones conductuales de las PAP, así como las explicaciones sobre los mecanismos por los cuales tales prácticas influyen en la CAI son todavía desconocidas. Se proponen algunas consideraciones a retomar en investigaciones futuras.