Complementary feeding self-efficacy: A concept analysis

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Complementary feeding is a crucial aspect of children’s health and growth. Few children receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods that meet the criteria of dietary diversity and appropriate feeding frequency. Applied to nutrition, self-efficacy may predict which dietary behavior people feel capable of changing, how much effort they will expend while trying to adopt the new behavior, and how long they will persist in the face of obstacles. AIM: This paper aimed to recognize the attributes of the concept of complementary feeding self-efficacy. METHODS: A search was conducted for articles in the scientific literature through PubMed and ProQuest using search terms: Feeding practices, self-efficacy, mother, confident, maternal, and infant. A manual search was also performed, which included textbooks. Concept analysis was done with the method developed by Walker and Avant. Inclusion criteria were defined and a database created with the articles included for the analysis. RESULTS: The concept of complementary feeding self-efficacy is defined as mother’s beliefs in her ability to give adequate complementary food in terms of time, portion, frequency, and variety as well as to give safe and hygiene foods. It also involves creating a comfortable and warm environment while children are eating and to give appropriate responses toward any child’s cues while eating, including hunger and satiety. Education of mother, type of family, occupation of father, occupation of mother, infant’s health, and family income status are antecedents for these attributes. The consequences are changes in behavior of mothers, children’s food intake improvement, and physical growth. CONCLUSION: The attributes identified contribute to the understanding of the complementary feeding self-efficacy concept. These results could be used to design behavioral intervention.