Parental Childhood Feeding Experiences and Complementary Feeding Practices in Urban Households of Nigeria

ABSTRACT Background Poor complementary feeding practices can expose young children to increased burdens of undernutrition, morbidity, and poor health outcomes in adulthood. Parents and caregivers, who feed the children, are shaped by socio-cultural beliefs and pervasive socioeconomic realities. Also, parental values are influenced by their perceptions and childhood feeding experiences among others. This study, therefore, explored the role of parental childhood feeding experiences and changing socioeconomic realities on complementary feeding practices in urban households of Aba, Nigeria. Method Twenty-eight in-depth interviews and eight focus group discussions were held with parents of young children aged 6–23 months attending postnatal care clinics in selected healthcare facilities in Aba city, Nigeria. Aba city is one of the sprawling urban centers in South-East Nigeria. Data were thematically analyzed using Atlas.ti software. Results Complementary feeding practices in the Aba urban households of South-East Nigeria did not meet the recommended feeding guidelines on timely complementary feeding and dietary diversity. Consumption of processed foods and sweetened beverages was prevalent. Data suggest this feeding pattern was affected by two factors: parental feeding experiences in early life and changing socioeconomic realities. Parents who lacked satisfactory feeding experiences in their childhood but achieved some socioeconomic success in later life exhibited poor complementary feeding practices. Also, certain food types were associated with affluence notwithstanding their nutritional values. Poor complementary feeding was also linked to the parental desire to not reliving their poor childhood feeding experiences. Conclusion The parental perceived poor childhood feeding experience has led many to adopt the consumption of processed foods and sweetened beverages. This may expose children to risks of undernutrition, obesity, and overall poor health outcomes in later adulthood. More effort should be made to educate parents on healthful eating patterns and the dangers of poor complementary feeding practices in children's overall health well-being in later life.