EARLY-CHILDHOOD FEEDING PRACTICES IN NORTHERN CAMEROON

Following the identification of differences in disease patterns among infants from households of different social groups (Moslem and non-Mos lem) in northern Cameroon, 534 mothers and their children 0-23 months old were studied to determine early childhood feeding practices in the 2 groups. Several significant differences were revealed. Compared wit h non-Moslem infants, Moslems were more likely to be given animal milk instead of breast milk before the age of 3 d. On average, miller pap was introduced to Moslem babies between their 1st and 2nd months and t o non-Moslem babies between their 3rd and 4th months. Moslem mothers m ore commonly prepared pap with oil or cow butter as an ingredient. Mos lem mothers also planned to wean their children at an earlier age than non-Moslems and were less likely to report boiling their children's d rinking water. Moslem mothers of infants less than 5 months old were l ikely to believe their breast milk was insufficient. The implications of these findings on the higher incidence of infant diarrhoea, stuntin g and early childhood death among Moslems are discussed.