Correlation between mothers' and 6- to 12-month-old infants' dietary diversity: a study in Southern Thailand

Abstract

Optimal nutrition is essential for overall health in all age groups. Dietary diversity is a proxy indicator of nutrient sufficiency, and current evidence suggests an association between maternal and child dietary diversity. This study examined the relationship between the dietary diversities of infants and their mothers in Thailand. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 120 pairs of healthy 6- to 12-month-old infants and mothers attending the Well Child Clinic at Songklanagarind Hospital between December 2020 and November 2021. The dietary intake of mothers and infants was assessed using a 24-h food record. Foods were categorized into 8 and 10 food groups for infants and mothers, respectively. Dietary diversity and nutritional status (body mass index) were analyzed. The common food groups consumed by infants included milk (100%), grains (83%), vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables (81%), fruits (71%), meat (67%), and eggs (45%), while mothers most frequently consumed grains (99%), meat (97%), fruits (73%), eggs (68%), vegetables (64%), and milk (30%). Kendall's rank correlation revealed that mothers with higher dietary diversity fed their infants a similarly diverse diet (τ = 0.152, P = .04). A significant positive relationship between maternal and infant body mass indices was also observed (r2 = 0.36, P < .001). Our study found a correlation between maternal and 6- to 12-month-old infant dietary diversities and revealed a positive association between the body mass indices of mothers and infants. Our findings suggest that mothers' diets significantly affect infants' diets and nutritional status.

Keywords: children’s diet; dietary intake; maternal diets.