Maternal knowledge about complementary feeding in Latin america: A narrative review

Abstract

Malnutrition has been the cause of 60% of the 10.9 million of deaths annually among children under five in the world. More than two thirds of those deaths are related to inappropriate feeding practices. Complementary feeding of children begins at 6 months with the introduction of any food other than breast milk or its substitutes. The inadequate start, inappropriate practices and insufficient knowledge about it, bring important consequences on the health of children and future adults. Objective: To review the degree of maternal knowledge about AC, in Latin America 2001 -2016. Methodology: This was a narrative review. Original, available in full version, studies evaluating maternal knowledge about complementary feeding in Latin America were included. The reports were evaluated means the STROBE tool (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology). Results: There were 13 studies on practices and knowledge in complementary feeding: Mexico (one study), Peru (11 studies) and Ecuador (one study). In Colombia, there were six studies on practices and one about breastfeeding knowledge. Conclusion: In Latin America, the most studies show an intermediate level of knowledge about complementary feeding. In Colombia, is difficult to establish a degree of knowledge of complementary feeding current due to the lack of studies