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. 2016 Mar;19(4):703-15.
doi: 10.1017/S1368980015001962. Epub 2015 Jun 24.

Breast-feeding and complementary feeding practices in the first 6 months of life among Norwegian-Somali and Norwegian-Iraqi infants: the InnBaKost survey

Navnit Kaur Grewal  1 , Lene Frost Andersen  2 , Daniel Sellen  3 , Annhild Mosdøl  4 , Liv Elin Torheim  5
Affiliations

Breast-feeding and complementary feeding practices in the first 6 months of life among Norwegian-Somali and Norwegian-Iraqi infants: the InnBaKost survey

Navnit Kaur Grewal et al. Public Health Nutr. 2016 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: To examine breast-feeding and complementary feeding practices during the first 6 months of life among Norwegian infants of Somali and Iraqi family origin.

Design: A cross-sectional survey was performed during March 2013-February 2014. Data were collected using a semi-quantitative FFQ adapted from the second Norwegian national dietary survey among infants in 2006-2007.

Setting: Somali-born and Iraqi-born mothers living in eastern Norway were invited to participate.

Subjects: One hundred and seven mothers/infants of Somali origin and eighty mothers/infants of Iraqi origin participated.

Results: Breast-feeding was almost universally initiated after birth. Only 7 % of Norwegian-Somali and 10 % of Norwegian-Iraqi infants were exclusively breast-fed at 4 months of age. By 1 month of age, water had been introduced to 30 % of Norwegian-Somali and 26 % of Norwegian-Iraqi infants, and infant formula to 44 % and 34 %, respectively. Fifty-four per cent of Norwegian-Somali and 68 % of Norwegian-Iraqi infants had been introduced to solid or semi-solid foods at 4 months of age. Breast-feeding at 6 months of age was more common among Norwegian-Somali infants (79 %) compared with Norwegian-Iraqi infants (58 %; P=0·001). Multivariate analyses indicated no significant factors associated with exclusive breast-feeding at 3·5 months of age. Factors positively associated with breast-feeding at 6 months were country of origin (Somalia) and parity (>2).

Conclusions: Breast-feeding initiation was common among Iraqi-born and Somali-born mothers, but the exclusive breast-feeding period was shorter than recommended in both groups. The study suggests that there is a need for new culture-specific approaches to support exclusive breast-feeding and complementary feeding practices among foreign-born mothers living in Norway.

Keywords: Breast-feeding; Exclusive breast-feeding; Immigrants; Infant feeding.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Recruitment of participants in the survey
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Exclusive breast-feeding among Norwegian-Somali (formula image) and Norwegian-Iraqi (formula image) infants and breast-feeding among Norwegian-Somali (formula image) and Norwegian-Iraqi (formula image) infants during the first 6 months of life (Somali n 107; Iraqi n 80); InnBaKost survey, March 2013–February 2014
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Introduction of infant formula (formula image), water (formula image), sweetened drinks/fruit juices (formula image) and solid and/or semi-solid foods (formula image) to Norwegian-Somali infants during the first 6 months of life (n 107); InnBaKost survey, March 2013–February 2014
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Introduction of infant formula (formula image), water (formula image), sweetened drinks/fruit juices (formula image) and solid and/or semi-solid foods (formula image) to Norwegian-Iraqi infants during the first 6 months of life (n 80); InnBaKost survey, March 2013–February 2014
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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