Influence of infant feeding practices of adolescent and adult mothers on infants' weight

The objective of this study was to determine if the infant feeding practices of adolescent mothers were different from adult mothers (ages 22-28 years) of similar socioeconomic status. If differences existed in feeding practices, then these practices were evaluated to determine their impact on the infant's weight at six and 12 months. Data were collected on 61 infants of adolescent mothers and 60 infants of adult mothers when their infants were six and 12 months of age. The study included assessment of a) infant feeding practices, b) infant growth and development, and c) infant health status. Data showed that 20 percent of adolescent mothers breast fed compared to 35 percent of adult mothers. Maximum duration of breast feeding for adolescent mothers was 16 weeks compared to 52 weeks for adult mothers. Additionally, adolescent mothers added the first supplemental food,i.e. cereal, to infants' diets significantly earlier (p≤0.05) than did adult mothers. Illness index scores of infants of adolescent mothers (none of whom were breast fed at six and 12 months) were higher than the scores of adult mothers' infants; 10 mothers breast fed at six months and nine breast fed at 12 months. The difference in scores was significantly higher (p≤0.05) at six months, but not at 12 months. The diets of infants of adolescent and adult mothers were greater than 200 percent of the Recommended Dietary Allowances for seven nutrients at six and 12 months. The infants' mean weights at six and 12 months of age were related (p≤0.05) to birthweight, duration of breast feeding, and protein content of the diet. Infants' ages when supplemental foods were introduced, illness scores, and calorie and fat content of the diet were not significantly related to the infant's weight at six and 12 months.