NIVEL DE CONOCIMIENTO DEL PERSONAL DE ENFERMERÍA EN CUANTO AL INICIO DE LA ALIMENTACIÓN COMPLEMENTARIA

Abstract

Knowledge is understood as the set of information, skills and understanding acquired through training, and is essential to ensure adequate nutritional practices in infants. This study assessed the level of knowledge in this area and revealed key findings. It was observed that 51.72% of nursing staff opt for complementary foods such as cooked and mashed rice and legumes, while 27.59% prefer porridges, indicating a diversity in dietary recommendations. The general attitude towards complementary feeding shows a high level of consensus, with 96.55% acknowledging the importance of breast milk for a quick recovery, and 75.86% believing that bottle feeding can cause nipple confusion. Furthermore, 72.41% of staff believe that complementary feeding should be given after or between breastfeedings, while 41.38% believe that bottle feeding is less common compared to spoon feeding. Regarding the timing of breastfeeding counselling, 68.97% prefer to do so during prenatal care visits, while 27.59% opt for home visits. These results highlight the need to standardise and update complementary feeding education and training practices to improve the quality of nutritional care for infants.