Diet during lactation associated with infant behavior and caregiver-infant interaction in a semirural Egyptian village

• Published in: The Journal of nutrition Vol. 123; no. 2; pp. 164 - 175
• Main Authors: Rahmanifar, A, Kirksey, A, Wachs, T.D, McCabe, G.P, Bishry, Z, Galal, O.M, Harrison, G.G, Jerome, N.W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD American Society for Nutritional Sciences 01.02.1993
• Subjects: ABSORCION DE SUSTANCIAS NUTRITIVAS; ABSORPTION DE SUBSTANCES NUTRITIVES; ALIMENTATION AU SEIN; BEBES; Behavior - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Breast Feeding; COMPORTAMIENTO; COMPORTAMIENTO HUMANO; COMPORTAMIENTO MATERNAL; COMPORTEMENT; COMPORTEMENT HUMAIN; COMPORTEMENT MATERNEL; DEMOGRAFIA; DEMOGRAPHIE; Diet; DIETA; Egypt; ENERGIA; ENERGIE; ENFANT EN BAS AGE; FEMME; Health Status; HOGARES; Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology; Humans; Infant; Infant Food; INGESTION DE ALIMENTOS; LACTACION; LACTANCIA MATERNA; LACTATION; MADRE; Medical sciences; MENAGE; MERE; Mother-Child Relations; MUJERES; NUTRICION HUMANA; NUTRITION HUMAINE; Nutritional Status; Nutritional survey. Food supply and nutritional requirement; Population; PRISE ALIMENTAIRE (HOMME); REGIME ALIMENTAIRE; Regression Analysis; Rural Population; Sleep Stages; Social Class; TECHNIQUE DE PREVISION; TECNICAS DE PREDICCION; Vitamin B Complex - administration & dosage; Weight Gain; ZONAS RURALES; ZONE RURALE; Africa; Egypt; Human; Socioeconomic status; Mother; Infant; Behavior; Mother child relation; Breast feeding; Malnutrition; Postnatal development; Nutritional status; Feeding; Age Factors; Lactation; Nutrition Surveys; Breast Feeding; Egypt; Socioeconomic Status; Human Milk; Biology; Research Methodology; Socioeconomic Factors; Population Characteristics; Population; Research Report; Child Development; Physiology; Demographic Factors; Northern Africa; Arab Countries; Nutrition; Health; Nutrition Disorders; Africa; Maternal Nutrition; Youth; Mediterranean Countries; Diseases; Maternal Physiology; Studies; Economic Factors; Diet; Malnutrition > women; Developing Countries; Infant Nutrition; Longitudinal Studies
• ISSN: 0022-3166; 1541-6100

Potential processes through which nutritional and non-nutritional factors can relate to infant state and behavior and mother-infant interactions were examined in 41 mother-infant pairs from semirural Egyptian households. All infants were breast-fed, and breast milk was the main source of their nutrient intake. Median birth weight was close to reference median; however, most infants showed growth faltering when they were 3-6 mo of age. Among the infant behavioral and state variables, only drowsiness (a proxy for activity and alertness) was significantly associated with the nutritional and non-nutritional factors examined. Among these factors, mothers' intakes of animal source foods and certain B vitamins were the strongest predictors of drowsiness. The nature of the association between maternal diet and drowsiness, examined by multiple regression analysis, showed clearly that inadequate diet of the mother was the major risk factor. Alertness of infants was further compromised when there were several children in the households. The small, less vocal and less alert infants received less vocalization from their mothers. in this environment, infants of under- nourished mothers may not receive the extra care and stimulation needed and are at risk for subsequent developmental disabilities