INFLUENCE OF CARE AND FEEDING PRACTICES ON THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF INFANTS

Abstract

Objective: To determine the influence of infant care and feeding practices on body mass index in children under two years of age, and to identify differences in feeding practices according to the intensity and age at which care begins. Material and Method: Descriptive cross-sectional study with a correlational design. We
analyzed 220 infants, aged 6 to 24 months, who attended a checkup with a family medicine specialist nurse at a public sector daycare center in an urban area of Sinaloa, Mexico, with their mother, father, or formal or
informal caregiver. Sociodemographic data on the participants, the infant’s care environment, and feeding
practices were collected. Anthropometric measurements were taken. Multiple linear regression, KruskalWallis test, and Mann-Whitney U test were applied. Results: Informal care (?=0.73; p=0.004), intensity of
care (?=0.41, p=0.006), mixed feeding (?=-0.63, p=0.007), overeating (?=0.71, p=0.001), and inadequate frequency (?=0.51, p=0.026) positively influenced the infant’s body mass index. Additionally, differences in the amount and frequency of feeding were observed in relation to the intensity and age of onset of care.
Conclusions: The results of the study highlight the critical role of infant care and feeding practices, as they
constitute risk factors in the care environment that can impact the infant’s nutritional status.