Feeding Practices of Mothers in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia.

摘要

The diets of Mongolia infants are deficient in vitamins and minerals and complementary foods are introduced too early. Breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition for infants until 6 months of age. A survey of 50 Mongolian mothers with children under the age of 5 in the town of Sainshand, Dornogobi, was conducted in July 2011. Mongolian infants are among the highest percent of infants in the world who are exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of their lives, thus providing them with excellent nutrition. However, complementary feedings and supplements are not appropriately used or understood. Therefore, the diets of Mongolian infants are still lacking key nutrients and they are exposed to complementary foods too soon. By obtaining more information on the feeding practices of Mongolian mothers, better education materials and seminars on infant nutrition can be developed, which will improve the overall nutrition and health of the children of Mongolia.