Background: Breastfeeding is widely recognised as the ideal approach for improving child survival and feeding new-born babies and young infants. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first 6 months of life with timely introduction of complementary foods at 6 months and continued breastfeeding for up to two years and beyond. The feeding practices of mothers are widely influenced by different factors which may be embedded within different contexts of life. Aim: This study explored the infant feeding practices of mothers and/or caregivers of infants below the age of 6 months. Method: This cross sectional study was conducted in four provinces in South Africa. In total, 40 health facilities were randomly selected in the four provinces and visited including metropolitan and non-metropolitan health facilities over the geographical area of the provinces. Fixed structured interviews were conducted and data on the feeding practices of mothers were collected using a questionnaire which had both open and closed-ended questions. Qualitative data were coded under different themes. The sample size comprised of mothers and/or caregivers of babies aged 6 months and below. A 24-hour recall was completed for all infants. Dietary intake and diversity were assessed using the FAO dietary diversity list consisting of 12 different food groups. Descriptive statistics, crosstabs and Pearson chi-square tests were used. Results: A total of 580 mothers/caregivers of infants below the age of 6 months were interviewed. Ninety-five % (n=551) were biological mothers. A total of 490 (85%) were breastfeeding at the time of the interviews. Ninety % had initiated breastfeeding during the first hour after delivery. At the time of the study, 12% (n=4) of the women were practising exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the recommended 6 months. Sixteen % (n=90) were not breastfeeding at the time the interviews were conducted. More than two thirds (64%) had exclusively breastfed their infants but stopped at the time of the interviews and 36% (n=32) did not breastfeed their babies at all. Twelve % (n=4) of the mothers stopped breastfeeding from as early as one month. The most cited reasons by the participants for breastfeeding cessation were the need to return to work or school. Reasons for not breastfeeding at all included the mothers HIV status, poor health and insufficient milk production. Forty-one % (n=239) of the mothers believed that breastfeeding contains adequate nutrients for the child and 5.7% (33) did not know why breastfeeding is important. Nearly half (49%) were giving infant feeding formula. Seventy % (n=220) of the women were giving either infant feeding formula or other liquids in addition to breast milk. The most stated reason for giving other liquids or foods was the belief that breast milk was not enough for the infant. Almost two thirds (56%) of the mothers gave their infants fortified infant feeding formula. Only one infant (0.2%) met the minimum standard of dietary diversity. Complementary food was introduced from as early as one month, and 73% of the women reported that their infants were receiving dietary supplements. Conclusion: Breastfeeding still remains a universal practice in the country. Sustained exclusive breastfeeding is still a cause of concern and 6 month EBF rates remain very low. Both mothers and caregivers had sound understanding of the importance of breastfeeding. Early initiation of complementary foods is still a norm and wide problem in the country. The dietary diversity of complementary diets given to babies was nutritionally inadequate. / MSc (Nutrition), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Background: Breastfeeding is widely recognised as the ideal approach for improving child survival and feeding new-born babies and young infants. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first 6 months of life with timely introduction of complementary foods at 6 months and continued breastfeeding for up to two years and beyond. The feeding practices of mothers are widely influenced by different factors which may be embedded within different contexts of life. Aim: This study explored the infant feeding practices of mothers and/or caregivers of infants below the age of 6 months. Method: This cross sectional study was conducted in four provinces in South Africa. In total, 40 health facilities were randomly selected in the four provinces and visited including metropolitan and non-metropolitan health facilities over the geographical area of the provinces. Fixed structured interviews were conducted and data on the feeding practices of mothers were collected using a questionnaire which had both open and closed-ended questions. Qualitative data were coded under different themes. The sample size comprised of mothers and/or caregivers of babies aged 6 months and below. A 24-hour recall was completed for all infants. Dietary intake and diversity were assessed using the FAO dietary diversity list consisting of 12 different food groups. Descriptive statistics, crosstabs and Pearson chi-square tests were used. Results: A total of 580 mothers/caregivers of infants below the age of 6 months were interviewed. Ninety-five % (n=551) were biological mothers. A total of 490 (85%) were breastfeeding at the time of the interviews. Ninety % had initiated breastfeeding during the first hour after delivery. At the time of the study, 12% (n=4) of the women were practising exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the recommended 6 months. Sixteen % (n=90) were not breastfeeding at the time the interviews were conducted. More than two thirds (64%) had exclusively breastfed their infants but stopped at the time of the interviews and 36% (n=32) did not breastfeed their babies at all. Twelve % (n=4) of the mothers stopped breastfeeding from as early as one month. The most cited reasons by the participants for breastfeeding cessation were the need to return to work or school. Reasons for not breastfeeding at all included the mothers HIV status, poor health and insufficient milk production. Forty-one % (n=239) of the mothers believed that breastfeeding contains adequate nutrients for the child and 5.7% (33) did not know why breastfeeding is important. Nearly half (49%) were giving infant feeding formula. Seventy % (n=220) of the women were giving either infant feeding formula or other liquids in addition to breast milk. The most stated reason for giving other liquids or foods was the belief that breast milk was not enough for the infant. Almost two thirds (56%) of the mothers gave their infants fortified infant feeding formula. Only one infant (0.2%) met the minimum standard of dietary diversity. Complementary food was introduced from as early as one month, and 73% of the women reported that their infants were receiving dietary supplements. Conclusion: Breastfeeding still remains a universal practice in the country. Sustained exclusive breastfeeding is still a cause of concern and 6 month EBF rates remain very low. Both mothers and caregivers had sound understanding of the importance of breastfeeding. Early initiation of complementary foods is still a norm and wide problem in the country. The dietary diversity of complementary diets given to babies was nutritionally inadequate. / MSc (Nutrition), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

This thesis "Effect of concentrates feeding on slaughter weight and carcass composition in farmed fallow deer (Dama dama)" evaluates the influence of two different sorts of complementary food and a nutritive supplement to slaughter weight and structure of a fatted body. The literature summary is complemented with results of the experiment conducted on The Mnich Farm near Kardašova Řečice in association with The Institute of Animal Science. Ten-month fallow deers were divided into three groups. Each of them was kept separately, one (the control group No.1) was fed only by pasture, the group No.2 and No.3 were fed by complementary food consisting of barley and oat in a ratio of 2/3:1/3 in the amount of 0,4 kg per one head and day. The group No. 3 was extra served by the nutritive supplement containing protected lysine. The animals were weighted at the beginning of the experiment and in the process of slaughter at the age of sixteen months. Fifteen heads of cattle were randomly chosen from every group and they were slaughtered during three days - five at a day from each of group. The animals were transported to the slaughterhouse afterwards where the slaughter preparation was done according to the JUT´s (The Slaughter Preparation of meat stock classification) and the SEUROP´s (The System of Slaughter Preparation of meat stock classification) rules. The differences were statistically compared. Beyond the task the economical evaluation of profitability of complementary food and nutritive supplement admixture to the feeding ration and the slaughter processing effectivity has been made.

Submitted by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2018-05-22T19:28:27Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_Alice_Neves.pdf: 1004810 bytes, checksum: a44816643054267f9058d383c80897b8 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2018-05-24T13:43:13Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertacao_Alice_Neves.pdf: 1004810 bytes, checksum: a44816643054267f9058d383c80897b8 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2018-05-24T13:43:28Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertacao_Alice_Neves.pdf: 1004810 bytes, checksum: a44816643054267f9058d383c80897b8 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-24T13:43:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertacao_Alice_Neves.pdf: 1004810 bytes, checksum: a44816643054267f9058d383c80897b8 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-10-10 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Alimentação Complementar (AC) é o período no qual os lactentes passam a receber gradualmente outros alimentos, visto que o leite materno sozinho já não é suficiente para satisfazer todas as necessidades nutricionais. Como nesse período a criança apresenta rápido crescimento e desenvolvimento, o papel dos nutrientes é crucial, inclusive como forma de estabelecer o adequado hábito alimentar da criança no presente e no futuro. Assim, os objetivos do atual trabalho foram avaliar como e quando a alimentação complementar inicia, o perfil da AC, consumo de industrializados e o estado nutricional de crianças de 1-3 anos. A amostra consistiu de 79 crianças entre 1-3 anos, matriculadas em escolas públicas de Pelotas/RS. Avaliou-se Estatura/Idade, Peso/Idade e IMC/Idade (OMS, 2006), e foi aplicado um questionário estruturado aos pais/cuidadores. AC foi considerada precoce quando iniciou ˂ seis meses, na idade recomendada = seis meses e tardia quando ≥ oito meses. Os dados foram apresentados de forma descritiva. 16,5% das crianças foram consideradas com sobrepeso e 7,6% com obesas, segundo IMC/I, e 13,9% com peso elevado para idade, segundo P/I. A idade média para início da AC foi 5,3 meses. O último alimento oferecido foi a carne. Antes dos seis meses, 43% receberam gelatina e 12,7% suco de caixinha. Entre seis meses e dois anos, 96,2% receberam biscoito recheado e 91,1% salgadinho. / Complementary Feeding (CA) is the period where infants gradually receive other foods, since breast milk alone is no longer sufficient to meet all nutritional needs. In this period the child is rapidly growing and developing, the role of nutrients is crucial, including as a way to establish the child's current eating habits in the present and future. So, the objectives were to assess how and when complementary feeding (CA) started, CA profile, consumption of industrialized foods and the nutritional status of children aged 1-3 years. The sample consisted of 79 children with aged 1-3 years, enrolled in public schools in Pelotas/RS. Height/Age, Weight/Age and BMI/Age (WHO, 2006) were evaluated, and a questionnaire was applied to parents/caregivers. CA was considered early when it started ˂ six months, at the recommended age = six months and late when ≥ eight months. The data were presented in a descriptive. 16.5% of the children were considered overweight and 7.6% obese, according to BMI/A, and 13.9% of excess of weight for age, according to weight/A. The mean age for started CA was 5.3 months. The last food offered was meat. Before six months, 43% received gelatin and 12.7% juice. Between six months and two years, 96.2% received biscuit and 91.1% salty snacks.

Introduction: The BLW method (Baby-Led Weaning) is an increasingly used method of introducing complementary nutrition to infants, in which the phase of feeding a puree with a spoon is completely omitted and larger pieces of food are immediately offered to the infants. There are concerns that children at BLW may cause worse thriving of them. Aims: The main aim of the work is to compare the somatic parameters of 12 months old infants depending on the method of feeding. The partial goals are to find out how much information parents have about the BLW method and what their child's nutrition looks like in their first year of life. Methods: Retrospective observational research was carried out by means of a questionnaire survey among parents of toddlers aged from the end of the 12th month to the end of the 18th month. The set consisted of 186 respondents for the evaluation of general information about the child's nutrition. Somatic parameters (head circumference, length/height, weight and weight/length [height] ratio at 12 months) were evaluated in a set of 153 respondents, the data were obtained from the child's health card. Data collection took place at the turn of February and March 2021. The data comparison was performed by t-test and ANOVA test. Results: The mean weight percentile at 12 months is...

Introduction: Gut microbial composition has been associated with immune-mediated diseases. Breastfeeding yields a microbiota rich in bifidobacteria and promotes colonization by lactobacilli. Bifidobacteria and lactobacilli are considered health-promoting and are used as probiotics, i.e. live microbial food supplements which when ingested in adequate amounts confer a beneficial effect on the host. During weaning the developing gut immune system is exposed to an increasing variety of antigens from both foods and gut microbiota. Aims: We aimed to determine if daily feeding of 1x108 colony-forming units (CFU) of the probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei strain F19 (LF19) to healthy term infants from 4 to 13 months of age could maintain some of the beneficial effects conferred by breastfeeding on gut microbial composition, with possible effects on gut microbial function, T cell function, Th1/Th2 immune balance and eczema incidence. Study design: Infants were randomized to daily intake of cereals with (n=89) or without LF19 (n=90) from 4-13 months of age. Clinical outcome measures were monitored by diaries and a questionnaire. Stool and blood samples were obtained at 4, 6½, 9, 13 and 5½, 6½, 12 and 13 months of age, respectively. Stool samples were analyzed for lactobacilli counts by conventional culture methods and the presence of LF19 was verified by randomly amplified polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR). Fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) pattern, a proxy for gut microbial function, was determined by gas-liquid chromatography. After polyclonal or specific activation of T cells, the cytokine mRNA expression levels [interleukin 2 (IL2), IFN-, IL4 and IL10] were determined on isolated mRNA by quantitative real time reverse transcriptase-PCR. Serum concentrations of total and specific IgE antibodies, Haemophilus influenzae type b, diphtheria and tetanus toxoid specific IgG antibodies were analyzed by enzyme immunoassay. Results: Feeding LF19 maintained high fecal lactobacilli counts during weaning. Persistent colonization with LF19 induced differences in the fecal SCFA pattern. The cumulative incidence of eczema was lower in the probiotic group, in conjunction with a higher IFN-γ/IL4 mRNA ratio in polyclonally activated T cells. Even though there was an effect by LF19 on Th1/Th2 immune balance, there was no effect on IgE sensitization. Infants in both groups increased their capacity to express both Th1 and Th2 cytokines during the second half of infancy but the expression was still lower than that of adults. Infants in the probiotic group had lower IL2 levels after polyclonal T cell activation at 13 months of age compared with infants in the placebo group. Infants fed LF19 did not have fewer infections, but had fewer days with antibiotic prescription compared with infants fed placebo. In addition, compared to placebo, persistent colonization by LF19 enhanced specific vaccine responses to protein antigens during the course of vaccination. Conclusions: We conclude that feeding LF19 was safe, based on no observed adverse effects in our study. Infants in both groups demonstrated maturation of adaptive immune responses during weaning. Adding probiotics in complementary foods during weaning reduced the risk of eczema by 50%, with a concomitant shift towards an enhanced Th1/Th2 ratio. The reduction of eczema might be explained by probiotic effects on both T cell-mediated immune responses and reinforced gut microbial function.

The WHO Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitute is a public health recommendation to reduce preventable causes of infant morbidity and mortality associated with malnutrition. Irresponsible marketing of infant formula in hospitals is a threat to exclusive breastfeeding. Nurses are mandated to support, encourage and protect breastfeeding and to familiarize themselves with their responsibilities under this Code. The researcher explored Geneva nurses' knowledge of the Code and its impact in practice. Eighty seven point seven percent of the participating nurses had poor level of knowledge of the Code. Poor knowledge of the Code impacts on the quality and consistency of information given to mothers in hospitals. Inadvertent violations of the Code were observed among a minority of the respondents: 7.3% indicated that they received gifts; 2.4% received sponsorships to conferences. Training about the Code and its application in counseling is recommended to complement the babyfriendly initiative at hospitals to improve nutrition outcomes. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

The WHO Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitute is a public health recommendation to reduce preventable causes of infant morbidity and mortality associated with malnutrition. Irresponsible marketing of infant formula in hospitals is a threat to exclusive breastfeeding. Nurses are mandated to support, encourage and protect breastfeeding and to familiarize themselves with their responsibilities under this Code. The researcher explored Geneva nurses' knowledge of the Code and its impact in practice. Eighty seven point seven percent of the participating nurses had poor level of knowledge of the Code. Poor knowledge of the Code impacts on the quality and consistency of information given to mothers in hospitals. Inadvertent violations of the Code were observed among a minority of the respondents: 7.3% indicated that they received gifts; 2.4% received sponsorships to conferences. Training about the Code and its application in counseling is recommended to complement the babyfriendly initiative at hospitals to improve nutrition outcomes. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)