Analysis of feeding patterns and factors affecting the feeding patterns of children under 3 years old in 40 rural counties in western China

Objective: To study the feeding patterns in western China, find defection in the feeding patterns in order to look for the intervention methods, popularize reasonable feeding knowledge, and improve children's nutrition in these areas. Methods: We interviewed 7302 families by using stratified multistage sampling in 40 counties of 5 provinces in western China. Databases were set up, and all the data were checked by EPI6.0 software. All the data were entered with duplication method, then were analyzed by SPSS10.0 software. Results: There were obvious defections in the feeding patterns of children in the 40 counties. The rate of exclusive breastfeeding in children was low in 4 months of age after birth. Added foods were not reasonable, protein was greatly inadeguate in particular. 51.7% of the children were breastfed until 12 months old. Compared with WHO/UNICEF reference, these rates were fairly low in the 40 poor counties. Many factors affected the feeding patterns of the local children, including ethnical groups parents' education, family income, the number of children and their birth order in the family. Health education had a significant effect on improving the feeding patterns of children. Conclusion: Scientific feeding knowledge should be spread to improve the feeding patterns of children in western China.