Abstract

VASQUEZ RUIZ, Gabriela; GONZALEZ JACOME, Alba; CRUZ LEON, Artemio  and  MONROY-TORRES, Rebeca. Knowledge, traditions, and practices of maternal and child feeding in localities of the Huasteco hidalguense Carso. Rev. Mex. de trastor. aliment [online]. 2023, vol.13, n.1, pp.17-29.  Epub Dec 05, 2023. ISSN 2007-1523.  https://doi.org/10.22201/fesi.20071523e.2023.1.744.

Nutrition during the first 1000 days of life (from the womb to two years of age) is fundamental for the future health of a person. The objective of this article is to analyze maternal and child feeding knowledge and practices in rural localities of the state of Hidalgo in Mexico. A cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study was carried out from a phenomenological perspective combining quantitative and qualitative techniques in 56 participants and 7 informants who were interviewed. 48% of the women interviewed offered breast milk exclusively for 4 to 6 months, 57% weaned after one year. The family was the main source of information for the women (91%), above the health personnel (80%), who frequently gave contradictory opinions. Seventy-one percent preferred the use of herbal knowledge from midwives, daughters of midwives, or older women. The knowledge, traditions, and food practices of mothers of children under two years of age in the Carso Huasteco hidalguense are based on traditional knowledge permeated by the discourse of health personnel and the media, as well as physical and economic access to processed and fresh foods.

Keywords : Breastfeeding; eating behavior; childhood; attitudes; knowledge.

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