| Abstract [eng] |
The aim of the investigation is to analyze and evaluate the state of infants nutrition in Lithuania in 2005 and determine the state changing tendencies (comparing with the data of 1993 and 1999) The tasks of the investigation: To evaluate the duration of infants breastfeeding. 2. To determine the main reasons, which have influence on the duration of breastfeeding. 3. To determine the introduction of time of complementary feeding. 4. To evaluate the habits and ways of feeding. 5. To clarify the main sources of information about infants feeding. The methods and volume of the investigation: Trying to evaluate infants’ feeding state in Lithuania its changes and dynamics during the last 12 years there was made an anonymous questionnaire of mothers, growing infants of the age of 12-18 months. The questionnaire was made of 39 open-close type questions. In the general part of the questionnaire there were given such questions: about respondents’ living place, infants’ age, the number of children in families, mothers age at the time of infants birth, education and social classes. The largest part of questions was given to clarify the duration of breastfeeding, the introduction of time of complementary feeding, habits and ways of feeding, the main reasons which have influence on breastfeeding duration. By accidental selection there were questioned 1543 mothers living in 10 Lithuanian regions: 73,2% of all respondents lived in towns, 10,5% - in regional centers, 16,3% - in villages. This accidental selection is systematic according to regions, towns and villages. The number of those who were engaged in this investigation was chosen according to the medium number of infants birth for 1000 of people in the region. The statistical analysis of the data was made by the computer programme SPSS 11.0 and WinPepi 2006 versions. The reliability of differences among groups was estimated using test χ², the statistical conclusion were to be made when p<0,05. The results: It was established, that in 2005 breastfeeding takes longer than in 1993 and 1999: breastfeeding women until 4 months in 1993 was 23%, in 1999 – 36,4%, in 2005 – 43,4%, breastfeeding women until 6 months in 1993 was 9,8%, in 1999 – 22,2%, in 2005 – 30,5%, and until 12 months in 1993 breastfed only 0,1%, in 1999 – 6,8%, in 2005 – even more – 10,8%. In this case, there are more mothers, who breastfed their infants exclusively until 6 months: 6,6% in 1999, 25,7% – in 2005. The main reason why mothers stop to breastfeed theirs babies – a shortage of breast milk (61,4% of all respondents). Other reasons why breastfeed was stopped are: illness of mother (7,7%), mother’s work (study) (6,4%), to feed with made-up food is easier and more comfortable (2,9%). 84,4 % respondents just after the childbirth were together with their infants and only 67,4% mothers answered, that their infants suckled in the time of an hour after the childbirth, in the first 2 hours suckled 76,3% infants. Most of the mothers were feeding their infants at night time (92,7%) and according baby’s wish (88,9%). Mothers introduced this complementary foods for their infants too early: tea (57,5%), cereal (48,7%), meat (35,7%), fish (48,2%), curd (75,3%), eggs (65,9%), yogurt (78,8%). 38,8% mothers introduced meat in the baby’s ration too late. Respondents gave a supplementary food mostly (67,9%) from bottle, 22,7% - from spoon and only 9,4% from cup. Mothers got the information about infants’ feeding from these resources: doctors and nurses (46,7%), books and periodical press (28,1%), advices of friends and grandmothers (7,8%). The conclusions: Breastfeeding duration is becoming longer in Lithuania. More and more mothers breastfeed their infants until necessary age of 6 months. A complementary and made- up food is introduced to the infant’s ration too early. |
