The Effect of Technology-Based Education Given to Mothers During the Transition to Complementary Feeding on Infant Development, Transition to Complementary Feeding Behavior, and Mothers' Anxiety Levels

Overview

This study will be conducted as a randomized controlled pre-test post-test study to determine the effects of technology-based complementary feeding training given to mothers during the transition period of babies to complementary feeding on babies' behavior and development and their mothers' anxiety levels.

Breast milk is the most appropriate food for infant nutrition (1,2,3,4). Starting from the sixth month, complementary feeding begins with the addition of new foods, taking into account the baby's developmental characteristics and needs. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, initiating complementary feeding in addition to breast milk from the sixth month onward, and continuing breastfeeding until the age of two and beyond (5,6,7). The World Health Organization defines complementary feeding as "the period of transition to the family table, initiated in the sixth month when exclusive breastfeeding is no longer sufficient to meet the infant's needs, and during which a variety of semi-solid and solid foods are introduced along with breast milk" (8). Nutrition in the first two years of life forms the foundation of health (9,10). Growth and developmental delays that may occur during this period are very difficult to correct in later periods (11,12). The timing of complementary feeding, the way food is prepared, and the variety and proportion of nutrients offered are among the important factors affecting the baby's health (13,14). While inadequate or incorrect practices during complementary feeding increase the baby's risk of hypertension, allergies, type 1 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and growth retardation in later life, these risks can be reduced with timely and correct complementary feeding (15,16,17). The child's emotions should be taken into account during feeding, and feeding habits should be established gradually and patiently, without forcing, and by trying different tastes. To achieve this, responsive and enjoyable complementary feeding should be prioritized (7, 18, 19, 20). In recent years, responsive complementary feeding methods such as baby-led feeding (BLW) have been recommended in addition to traditional complementary feeding methods (21, 22). The WHO emphasizes the importance of responsive feeding, as well as timely and high-quality feeding, for optimal complementary feeding (5, 6, 7, 20, 21, 23, 24). BLW feeding is a baby-friendly alternative feeding method where babies feed themselves with portions of family meals, rather than spoon-fed pureed foods offered by parents during the transition to complementary feeding. BLW feeding is becoming increasingly popular due to its advantages, including reduced risk of obesity, improved nutritional quality, positive parental attitudes toward eating behavior, and support for motor development (7,24,25,26,27,28). Health education, once provided one-on-one or in groups, can now be delivered in the form of technology-based health education, influenced by the use of the internet (29). The ease of accessibility of technology-based education, the availability of continuous information support at any time and place, and the use of different methods (video, animation, etc.) facilitate the widespread use of these education programs (30). Nurses can effectively provide education and consulting services using web-based education methods (31). Providing mothers with the most up-to-date information and methods regarding the transition to complementary feeding, which lays the foundations for healthy nutrition, is one of the most important duties of healthcare professionals, especially nurses. The transition to complementary feeding can create anxiety in both mothers and babies. A review of the relevant literature indicates that mothers experience anxiety and difficulties during the transition to complementary feeding (32,33). It has been reported that babies of anxious mothers are more likely to experience undernourishment or overnourishment (34). Therefore, evidence-based studies examining infants' transition to complementary feeding behavior, development, and mothers' anxiety levels are needed. The aim of the study is to determine the effects of technology-based complementary feeding training given to mothers during the transition period of babies to complementary feeding on the babies' transition behavior to complementary feeding, their development, and their mothers' anxiety levels.