The evaluation of baby feeding attitudes of mothers with 9-24 months old babies and babies' nutritional status

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the nutritional status of 9-24 month-old babies and their mothers' attitudes during this period, and to determine the relationships between the nutritional status of babies and their mothers' attitudes during this period. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on 9-24 month old infants and their mothers (n=141), who were followed up with healthy infants registered in the Family Health Centers of Samsun Public Health Directorate. Data; it was collected with a survey form consisting of questions about the family, questions about the baby, questions about the baby nutrition, the Mother's Attitudes Towards the Feeding Process Scale (BSATO) and food consumption record. The obtained data were evaluated using the Nutrition Information System (BeBiS) 7 and SPSS Version 26.0 package program. Results: The mean age of the mothers (n=141) included in the study was 31.9±4.59 years, and the average age of the babies was 15.6±5.33 months. Body weight of 89.4%, height and head circumference of 85.1% of infants were in the normal range. The average daily energy intake of all babies is 911.6±210.68 kcal. In infants, the percentage of energy coming from carbohydrates is 41.4±7.51 and the percentage from fat is 44.7±7.02, the percentage comig from protein 13.7±3.39. The mean total score of the mothers in Mother's Attitudes Towards the Feeding Process Scale was 55.9±19.09. There is a statistically significant negative correlation between the infants' percentage of meeting their energy intake and the mothers' scores on the "negative affect during meal" (p<0.05). There is a statistically significant positive correlation between the protein intake coverage percentage of infants and the total score of Mother's Attitudes Towards the Feeding Process Scale (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded that the nutritional status of babies and the sub-dimensions of mothers' negative mood during meals, their attitudes towards inadequate/unbalanced nutrition, negative feeding strategies and force feeding practices are related and that the attitudes of mothers in this process should also be taken into consideration when evaluating the nutritional status of babies.