Abstract

Among the children of the developing world, malnutrition in the form of protein and calorie deficiencies leads to severe medical problems and, in many cases, death. In Mali, 30 percent of malnourished children die before the age of five. Malnutrition is often related to the way children are weaned and to the types of food given as a substitute for breast milk. In this project, a survey will be conducted in three rural communities in Mali to determine current weaning practices. The results will serve to develop educational programs on health and nutrition and will lead to new health policies addressing these serious problems.

Post-Project Summary

A multidisciplinary team (nutritionist, sociologist, statistician, community development technician, epidemiologist, computer specialist) conducted a survey in 27 villages in Sansanding district in which the three ethnic groups were represented. The survey covered mothers with children ages 0 to 3 years, grandmothers responsible for weaning, and family heads or village elders. According to the results, breast milk is the main food source of children until the age of 6 months. Cereal-based foods and/or fish and legumes, fruits and meat are introduced in the second six months of life (ages 6 to 12 months). Most children (over 82%) are weaned between ages 18 and 24 months. The rest are usually weaned sooner for the following reasons: another pregnancy of the mother, death of the mother, premature drying up of breast milk. The weaning methods most commonly used by mothers include concealing the breast from the child whenever it is asked for (34.8%), giving the child special foods, usually cereal porridges (33.7%), entrusting the child to someone else for weaning, applying something unpleasant-tasting to the breasts, and so on. As a rule, weaning is done abruptly because of another pregnancy or because the child reaches the right age, so that breastfeeding is automatically stopped. Malnutrition appears after 6 months, with a critical period at 12 to 17 months. Malnutrition occurs more often when breastfeeding is stopped late than when stopped early (before 18 months). Malnutrition is less common in Bozo children than in Peulh and Bambara children. Weaning is accompanied by complications (diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss), although it has not been possible to establish any cause-effect relationship between weaning methods and these complications. It is recommended, among other things, that the population be made aware of the best methods of weaning in order to avoid the harmful effects of abrupt weaning; that while weaning the child be given a varied diet based on the nutritional value of available foods; and that communities be encouraged to engage in complementary activities to improve agricultural production such as women's gardening and raising small flocks.

Recipient Institution(s)