CONHECIMENTO DOS PAIS SOBRE O PROCESSO DE TRANSIÇÃO ALIMENTAR DE LACTENTES ATENDIDOS NO HOSPITAL UNIVERSITÁRIO LAURO WANDERLEY

Abstract

The complementary feeding introduction process is important for establishing long-term eating patterns. Knowing how this process happens and what influences it are important elements to promote healthy growth. This study aimed to describe the knowledge of parents and caregivers about the introduction of complementary feeding of children up to one year of age attended by a childcare service in Paraíba (PB). This is an observational, descriptive cross-sectional study with quantitative analysis. The study population refers to children up to one year of age treated at this childcare service. A non-probabilistic convenience sampling was performed. Data were acquired through a questionnaire applied to parents on the Google Forms platform. The sample consisted of 124 infants, most of the children were accompanied by their mother (87.1%) and the father was the main breadwinner of the family. 46% had not been exclusively breastfed for at least 6 months. The perception of the interviewees about which foods can be included in the child's menu was, in general, acceptable, especially in relation to the intake of sugar, salt and vegetables. Interviewees know that they should use natural seasonings and avoid salt, but they prefer to prepare it separately from the family's food. In conclusion, the knowledge of parents and caregivers of patients followed up in the analysed childcare service is generally satisfactory. However, it is noted that the adequacy to the guidelines in relation to the foods to be offered to children varies according to the analysed category. Regarding the main difficulties encountered for the correct performance of the infant's food introduction, it is observed that the child does not accept the food offered.