PRACTICES OF ZAIRIAN WOMEN RELATED TO FEEDING INFANTS AND CHILDREN UNDER TWO YEARS.
Contributors: University Of Illinois At Chicago, Health Sciences Center.
Published: 1994
Number of pages: 168
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Women's Studies.; Health Sciences, Nutrition.
Description: Zairian women's knowledge, beliefs and practices pertinent to nutrition of infants and children were examined using face-to-face interviews guided by an investigator-developed questionnaire. Interviews were conducted by the investigator in French and Lingala with 37 women from the Kinshasa area selected by both random and convenience sampling. All women had infants six to 24 months old who had Zairian health clinic growth cards and no overt symptoms of illness.

Mean weights of infants started to level at 3 months of age and went below the 85% Harvard standard indicative of first degree malnutrition at six months of age. They remained at that level through 24 months of age. Supplementary food was given beginning at six weeks. Weaning often was accompanied by diarrhea. Mothers returning to work used bottle feeding due to lack of breastmilk storage facilities. Food taboos crossed tribal boundaries and included readily available sources of protein. Family and peers were the major sources of information for mothers.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-05, Section: B, page: 1806.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO, HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER, 1994.

School code: 0806.