Protein energy malnutrition in complemented breast‐fed babies: implications of the timing of complementary feeding

The study investigated the association between complementation and protein energy malnutrition among 201 rural and urban women with infants of 0‐18 months of age in the Osun State of Nigeria. The infants mothers were interviewed about their child feeding practices and anthropometric measurements were made on the infants. The result indicated growth faltering in infants from one month old in rural areas and from four months old in the urban communities. Stunting was prevalent and underweight and wasting were also noticed in the study population as a consequence of early introduction of complementary foods. The main recommendations were that complementary foods should not be introduced before the infant is four‐six months of age and that the complementary foods used presently should be improved nutritionally through a long‐term nutritional public education.