Breast Feeding and Complementary Feeding in the Quebrada de Humahuaca: a Qualitative Approach

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Nutrition in early life is essential for optimal child growth and development. OBJECTIVE: To study the situation of breast feeding (BF) and complementary feeding (CF) in 0- to 5-year-old children from Quebrada de Humahuaca (Province of Jujuy). METHODS: A qualitativequantitative approach was applied, with participant observation and semistructured and open interviews. RESULTS: The duration of BF was one and a half year or more, with an early interruption of exclusive breast feeding (EBF) in more than three quarters of the sample. Regarding CF, there are two different modes: one installed by the access of mothers to the labor market, comprising industrial inputs such as rice, flour, noodles, sweets and sugared beverages; the second one, based on own local inputs such as maize, quinoa, llama meat, etc. The first complementary food for EBF is strained soup and the second one is formula and powder milk. CONCLUSIONS: The situation may reflect a greater availability and accessibility of food high in sugars and fats. Combined with a sedentary life style, this can lead to diseases of the metabolic syndrome such as obesity, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes. It is convenient to adapt the infant feeding recommendations to local cultural uniqueness, in order to optimize the age of introduction of CF to the EBF. They should also be adapted to the local health team so as to raise awareness about the risks of obesogenic food.