Breastfeeding practice in Kuwait: determinants of success and reasons for failure.

To explore the possible determinants of duration of breastfeeding in Kuwait, 234 mothers completed a questionnaire concerning the feeding of their youngest infant. The questionnaire addressed the factors that contributed to their willingness to continue breastfeeding and enquired about the factors leading to their decision to end it. Only 26.5% of the mothers had continued breastfeeding for 6 months or more. Separate family housing, higher maternal age, late initiation of breastfeeding, being employed without the feasibility to breastfeed at work, breastfeeding information given after rather than before birth, and maternal and infant sickness were all significant contributors influencing early cessation. Father's support was a significant factor that encouraged the practice. In conclusion, preventive strategies are recommended for boosting breastfeeding, with special emphasis on the factors linked to early cessation, aiming at full implementation of the WHO global public health recommendations for successful breastfeeding in Kuwait.

Pattern of beverage intake and milk and dairy products sufficiency among high-school students in Kuwait.

High consumption of soft drinks has been associated with lower intakes of milk and calcium-rich foods and higher body mass index (BMI). This study aimed to explore the pattern of beverage intake among Kuwaiti high-school students. A questionnaire on knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning beverages and milk and dairy products intake was completed by 190 Kuwaiti students aged 16-18 years and BMI was calculated for 181 of them. Intake of sweetened carbonated beverages and to a lesser extent packaged fruit juices affected the sufficiency of milk and dairy products intake among the sample of high-school students in Kuwait. Although BMI was not related to milk and dairy insufficiency, more of the overweight and obese students displayed incorrect practices. Nutritional education of high-school students on the importance of milk and dairy products as well as the hazards of excess sweetened carbonated beverages and packaged juice is recommended to prevent the obesity epidemic prevailing in Kuwait.

Pattern of beverage intake and milk and dairy products sufficiency among high-school students in Kuwait

High consumption of soft drinks has been associated with lower intakes of milk and calcium-rich foods and higher body mass index [BMI]. This study aimed to explore the pattern of beverage intake among Kuwaiti high-school students. A questionnaire on knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning beverages and milk and dairy products intake was completed by 190 Kuwaiti students aged 16-18 years and BMI was calculated for 181 of them. Intake of sweetened carbonated beverages and to a lesser extent packaged fruit juices affected the sufficiency of milk and dairy products intake among the sample of high-school students in Kuwait. Although BMI was not related to milk and dairy insufficiency, more of the overweight and obese students displayed incorrect practices. Nutritional education of high-school students on the importance of milk and dairy products as well as the hazards of excess sweetened carbonated beverages and packaged juice is recommended to prevent the obesity epidemic prevaiting in Kuwait

Une consommation élevée de boissons sucrées a été associée à une réduction des apports en lait et aliments riches en calcium ainsi qu’à une élévation de l'indice de masse corporelle. L'étude visait à explorer les caractéristiques de la prise de boissons sucrées chez des élèves du secondaire au Koweït. Un questionnaire sur les connaissances, les attitudes et les pratiques concernant la prise de boissons sucrées, de lait et de produits laitiers a été rempli par 190 élèves du Koweït âgés de 16 à 18 ans, et l'indice de masse corporelle a été calculé pour 181 d'entre eux. La prise de boissons gazeuses sucrées et dans une moindre mesure de jus de fruit préemballés affectait la suffisance des apports en lait et en produits laitiers au sein de l'échantillon d'élèves du secondaire au Koweït.Si l'indice de masse corporelle n'était pas lié à des apports en lait et produits laitiers insuffisants, les élèves en surpoids et obèses étaient plus nombreux à avoir de mauvaises pratiques. Une éducation nutritionnelle des élèves du secondaire sur l'importance du lait et des produits laitiers ainsi que sur les dangers de l'abus de boissons gazeuses sucrées et de jus de fruit préemballés est recommandée afin de prévenir l'épidémie d'obésité prévalente au Koweït