Development and pilot testing of a comprehensive and culturally-sensitive infant feeding descriptive questionnaire: a cross-sectional design

Background: Infant feeding tools available in the literature lack comprehensiveness and inclusiveness to infants of different ages. This study aimed to pilot test a newly developed infant feeding descriptive questionnaire. Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional design. The questionnaire developed had two main sections; the first section included questions relative to sociodemographic characteristics, birth and clinical history, and infant food history in the first year. The second section incorporated a 22-item design to stipulate a comprehensive description of infant feeding practices (IFP) and Infant Feeding Beliefs (IFB). A convenient sampling technique was used to collect data from six health centers located in Muscat and Al-Sharqia North. The infant feeding practices and beliefs variables were dichotomized to either meeting the recommendations (1) or not meeting the recommendations (0), based on the WHO guidelines. Results: The data analysis encompassed a cohort of 203 participants. Most mothers aged between 26 and 35 years (58.6%). Among the mothers, 67% practiced exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months, 89.2% were breastfeeding in the first year, and 44.9% initiated infant formula feeding at six months of age or later. Moreover, 64% of the mothers introduced solid food (e.g., rice, vegetables, fruits) at six months, while (87.2%) started feeding meat, chicken, or fish at six months. For feeding egg white, fresh milk, and bee honey, 43.4%, 84.7%, and 78.4%, respectively, met the recommendation of waiting until the child ages 12 months. The mean IFP score was 8.09 (SD 1.75), while the mean IFB score was slightly higher (m = 8.90, SD = 1.45). The Pearson correlation analysis signified a positive relationship between IFP and IFB (r = 0.53, p < 0.001). Mothers who received infant feeding counseling had higher IFP scores compared to the mothers who did not. Additionally, mothers with at least a baccalaureate degree and a family income of at least 1000 OMR had better IFB recommendation scores (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Data generated from the newly developed infant feeding practices and beliefs questionnaire shall assist in determining the risks associated with multiple nutrition-related morbidities in children, contributing to a comprehensive infant feeding assessment.