Theses and Dissertations Collection

Abstract

Appropriate complementary feeding practices are fundamental to a child's development. This study aimed to understand 1) Ghanaian mother's complementary feeding practices, and 2) their perceived impacts of complementary feeding. Ghanaian mothers with children from four to twenty four months of age were recruited from the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem district in the Central Region of Ghana (n=99). Eleven focus group interviews were conducted, audio recorded, and transcribed. The audio transcriptions were coded and analyzed into pertinent themes, meta-themes, and theoretical concepts. Over 80% (85) of mothers reported some knowledge about the effects of complementary feeding on their children. Four overarching themes were identified: 1) mothers' background knowledge about food, child health, and growth outcomes; 2) mothers' motivation in feeding their children; 3) barriers to feeding; 4) and, foods mothers offered their children. Ghanaian mothers identified challenges and misconceptions in complementary feeding indicating the need for nutrition education.