A Comparative Study of Opinions and Practices of Egyptian and Saudi Mothers Regarding Weaning Process

Abstract

The aim of the study was to compare mothers’ opinion and practice regarding infant weaning in two Arab countries Saudi Arabia and Egypt. A comparative descriptive, non-experimental design was adopted in the current study.  Participants in the present study were a convenient sample of a 400 participants, 200 from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and 200 from Cairo, Egypt Data was collected from different shopping malls in Riyadh and from outpatient of Cairo University, New Pediatric Hospital. Data were collected using a questionnaire developed by the researchers. The questionnaire have three parts: Part 1: Socio demographic data for the mothers. Part 2: Mothers Opinions about the weaning, Part 3: Mothers practices of weaning. The mothers who are working are more in Cairo than in Riyadh. A greater number of mothers were little educated in Cairo. The main source of information about weaning were family and relatives who represented the highest percentage in both countries. Breast milk insufficiency was the main reason given for the cessation of breastfeeding across the two countries. 12% of the children in Cairo had allergy problems after starting weaning process in contrast to 21.5% of the Riyadh children. Almost all these parameters were significantly different between the two countries. The current study revealed that the practices of feeding and weaning are different between the two countries. Majority of weaning happen suddenly in both countries and allergy might happen due to this sudden weaning practices. Teaching the parents about the proper weaning process and ways of introducing the new food could prevent further feeding difficulties and this responsibility lies on the shoulders of health care providers in both countries.

Keywords: Opinion weaning, Breastfeeding