Cross-sectional study of a child health care programme at one family practice centre in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

We randomly selected 100 mothers with children under 2 years attending an immunization clinic to measure satisfaction with and the effects of a child health care programme. Mean duration of breastfeeding was 10.7 ± 6.9 months; 37% of children were exclusively breastfed, 16% artificially fed and 47% mixed fed. Breastfeeding knowledge scores were good or fair for most mothers. Only 26% used effective contraception and 46% had a child-spacing of ≤ 12 months. We found 78.6% of lactating mothers had well or fairly balanced diets. Process of care was satisfactory in 73% of records reviewed, programme structure was satisfactory and 91% of mothers were satisfied with the programme.