Feeding practices and factors associated with early introduction of complementary feeding of children aged under six months in the northwest region of Goiania, Brazil

Objective: to analyze feeding practices and factors associated with early introduction of complementary feeding of children aged under six months born in a maternity hospital in the northwest region of Goiania, Goias, Brazil. Methods: cross-sectional study conducted between August/2005 and February/2007; early introduction of complementary feeding was investigated (outcome of interest) and possible associated factors (sociodemographic, maternal, pregnancy, child-related and food consumption variables); the prevalence ratio was determined using a Poisson regression model with robust adjustment of variance. Results: 362 children aged under six months were assessed and it was found that 95.3% of children received water (77.5%), fruit (62.7%), juices (57.2%), and savoury food (55.1%) early; after adjusted analysis outcome prevalence was higher among children of mothers who smoked (PR=1.02; CI95%: 1.01; 1.04) and lower in primiparous mothers (PR=0.97; CI95%: 0.95; 0.99). Conclusion: prevalence of early introduction of complementary feeding was high and associated with environmental and gestational factors.