A Study on Complementary Feeding Practices among Children Aged 6 Months to 2 Years in the Kureekotuwa Area, Sri Lanka

Abstract

During the first year of life, infants undergo rapid growth, and adequate complementary feeding is essential. Appropriate complementary feeding during early childhood is a major determinant of healthy growth and development. This study assessed complementary feeding practices among mothers in the Kureekotuwa Grama Niladari area and evaluated the appropriate use of traditional foods in complementary feeding. A home-to-home field survey was conducted using a specially designed questionnaire comprising a demographic profile and questions on mothers’ knowledge of complementary feeding and its nutritional value. Among the 80 mothers studied, only 25% initiated complementary feeding at the recommended time. Overall, 37.5% of mothers provided an adequate quantity at an appropriate age-specific daily frequency, whereas 45% provided thin feeds in semi-solid soft form. Egg yolk was introduced at the appropriate time by 20% of mothers, while 80% introduced it after one year; additionally, 27.5% introduced egg albumin at the correct time. Only 2.5% of mothers introduced freely available nutrient sources in complementary feeds, and 25% used a freely available protein source (sprat) before one year. A correlation was observed between mothers’ education and malnutrition (p > 0.05). The findings indicate that complementary feeding practices were inappropriate and knowledge was inadequate among most mothers in the study area, highlighting a practice gap and the need for appropriate interventions.