Determinants of Infants and Young Children Feeding Practices among Mothers Living in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

The WHO sets evidence-based guidelines for infant feeding. Adhering to the WHO guidelines ensures that infants receive the proper nutrition and thus is associated with healthy growth and development. The aim of this study was to describe breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices (CFPs) for infants and young children and identify determinants of appropriate feeding practices. This cross-sectional study was performed via structured interviews with mothers living in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province who had children aged 6 to 24 months. To evaluate their adherence to the recommended WHO practices, a scoring method was applied (0 to 9). This study highlights partial compliance with WHO guidelines for complementary feeding practices in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Factors influencing feeding practices include maternal employment and education level.