The effect of a short training on the complementary nutrition knowledge levels of mothers with babies aged between 4-18 months

Introduction and Aim: Complementary feeding is a critical process for the healthy growth and development of infants, and inappropriate practices during this period may lead to various health problems. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a short-term educational intervention on the level of knowledge regarding complementary feeding among mothers of infants aged 4 to 18 months. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional and quasi-experimental (single-group, pretest–posttest) study was conducted with 115 mothers of infants aged 4-18 months at the Bismil Altıok Family Health Center in Diyarbakır, Turkey, between 01.09.2024 and 31.12.2024. A short, guideline-based educational session supported by visual materials was applied to participants. Before and after the training, the "Complementary Feeding Knowledge Assessment Form" (CFKAF), developed by the researcher based on current literature, was administered to evaluate the change in knowledge levels. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27.0. statistical program. Results: The mean age of participating mothers was 28.71±4.93 years; 88.7% were housewives and 67% had a high school education or lower. The mean age of the infants was 8.19±3.09 months, and 57.4% had been exclusively breastfed for the first six months. Additionally, 83.5% of mothers reported continued breastfeeding, with an average duration of 21.63±4.54 months. The mean age at the introduction of complementary foods was 5.44±0.77 months, and 75.7% of mothers had declared beginning of complementary feeding, with yogurt (66.7%) being the most commonly offered first food. In 22 out of the 29 items on the CFKAF, the proportion of correct responses increased significantly after the training. The mean pretest score was 19.47±3.57, and the mean posttest score was 24.45±3.20, a statistically significant difference (p<0.001). A significant association was found between maternal education level and pretest score (p=0.002), with higher education among mothers indicating a high school or higher scores. Additionally, working mothers had significantly higher posttest scores compared to housewives (p=0.012). A positive correlation was also observed between maternal age at marriage and knowledge level (r=0.292; p=0.002). The internal consistency of the scale, assessed by Cronbach's alpha, was 0.672 for the pretest and 0.760 for the posttest. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that short-term education on complementary feeding significantly improved the knowledge levels of mothers with infants aged 4–18 months. In this regard, preparing complementary feeding training in accordance with the Ministry of Health guidelines, supporting it with visual materials structured according to the needs of mothers, and carrying it out practically will facilitate the permanence of the increase in knowledge and its transformation into behavior. Keywords: Mothers, Complementary feeding, Nutrition education, Knowledge level, Primary healthcare.