STANDARD ANO SELECTION OF SUBSTITUTE ANO COMPLEMENTARY FOODS TO BREASTFEEDING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES IN THE SEMI-ARID OF BAHIA

Abstract

This study aims to identify changes in standard and selection of complementary foods, during wean phase, which have been used from the past until nowadays, in rural communities in Cansanção - Bahia - Brazil. This research includes 226 small producer's children from zero (O) to two (2) years of age who live in one ofthe driest and poorest areas of Brazilian Northeast. The

informations concerning their past were gotten from twenty (20) histories of their lives, informal talks and declarations, which were given by the older members of those communities at meetings during tive years. The present data collection was made through questionnaires answered by mothers or person responsible for the child, from 1988 to 1989. The introduction of complementary and substitute food to breast-feeding occurs mostly between zero {O) and 29 days of life. This untimely introduction seems to follow an ancient cultural tradition of this population. lt was observed that the kind of food selected to complement or substitute breastfeeding has not been the sarne used in the past. They used to consume foods produced by themselves like cassava flour, "tapioca" and goat milk, but these foods have been replaced by industrialized foods available at local market. Atone year of age, children start eating table foods: beans and cassava flour, which are basic foods. They also consume small portions of meat and eggs. The consume of fruits and vegetables is seasonal.