Table 3 Feeding practices at baseline and throughout the study period (n = 200)
Variables | Experimental Group (n = 100) n(%) | Control group (n = 100) n(%) | t / χ2 value | P value a |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Type of milk | ||||
Exclusive breast feeding (month old) | ||||
0 to 5.99 | 100 (100) | 100 (100) | −0.63 | 0.53 |
Mean ± SD | 4.51 ± 0.56 | 4.65 ± 0.59 | ||
Still breastfeeding (month old) | ||||
At 5.99 | 90 (90) | 96 (96) | 2.76 | 0.09 |
At 11.99 | 68 (68) | 64 (64) | 0.35 | 0.65 |
At 17.99 | 4 (4) | 3 (3) | 1 † | |
Mean ± SD | 11.57 ± 3.35 | 11.76 ± 2.19 | −0.43 | 0.66 |
Infant formula (month old) | ||||
Birth – 5.99 | 67 (67) | 70 (70) | 0.20 | 0.64 |
6–11.99 | 71 (71) | 76 (76) | 0.64 | 0.42 |
12–17.99 | 88 (88) | 81 (81) | 1.87 | 0.17 |
Fresh milk (month old) | ||||
Birth – 5.99 | 60 (60) | 56 (56) | 0.32 | 0.56 |
6–11.99 | 47 (47) | 50 (50) | 0.18 | 0.67 |
12–17.99 | 87 (87) | 93 (93) | 2 | 0.15 |
Milk powder (other than infant formula) (month old) | ||||
Birth – 5.99 | 7 (7) | 5 (5) | 0.35 | 0.55 |
6–11.99 | 67 (67) | 55 (55) | 3.02 | 0.08 |
12–17.99 | 83 (83) | 90 (90) | 2.09 | 0.14 |
Others (month old) | ||||
Birth – 5.99 | 1 (1) | 0 (0) | 1 † | |
6–11.99 | 0 (0) | 1 (1) | 1 † | |
12–17.99 | 11 (11) | 14 (14) | 0.41 | 0.52 |
Age at introduction of complementary foods | ||||
Foods | ||||
Commercial cereals | 65 (65) 6.25 ± 0.79 | 68 (68) 6.05 ± 0.84 | 1.30 | 0.19 |
Porridge/Rice | 52 (52) 6.61 ± 0.96 | 55 (55) 6.77 ± 1.01 | −0.76 | 0.44 |
Biscuits/Breads | 100 (100) 5.59 ± 0.81 | 100 (100) 5.79 ± 0.84 | −1.55 | 0.12 |
Hen egg | 63 (63) 8.90 ± 0.6 | 69 (69) 9.02 ± 0.70 | −0.91 | 0.36 |
Meat/Fish | 30 (30) 12.28 ± 1.43 | 35 (35) 12.08 ± 1.33 | 0.53 | 0.59 |
Vegetables | 90 (90) 6.89 ± 1.27 | 89 (89) 7.05 ± 1.34 | −0.71 | 0.47 |
Fruits | 100 (100) 7.48 ± 1.43 | 100 (100) 7.35 ± 1.42 | 0.56 | 0.57 |
Drinks | ||||
Water with sugar | 52 (52) 4.10 ± 0.62 | 58 (58) 4.14 ± 0.61 | −0.33 | 0.74 |
Fruit juice | 75 (75) 5.44 ± 0.85 | 77 (77) 5.18 ± 0.74 | 1.84 | 0.06 |
Tea | 35 (35) 5.63 ± 0.84 | 41 (41) 5.50 ± 0.74 | 0.69 | 0.48 |
Coffee | 2 (2) 12.5 ± 1.41 | 1 (1) 12 ± 0.00 | 0.28 | 0.82 |
Others | 99 (99) 8.80 ± 0.94 | 96 (96) 8.87 ± 0.95 | −0.46 | 0.64 |