To assess the prevalence and sociodemographic determinants of breast-feeding (BF) and exclusive breast-feeding (EBF) in Cyprus up to the sixth month.

Cross-sectional and longitudinal descriptive study. BF and EBF were estimated based on mothers’ self-reported BF status in line with Step 7 of the WHO/UNICEF Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative questionnaire and based on 24 h recall.

Maternity wards in all public hospitals and twenty-nine (of thirty-five) private maternity clinics nationwide.

Consecutive sample of 586 mothers recruited within 48 h from birth, followed up by telephone interview at the first, fourth and sixth month.

Although 84·3 % of mothers initiated BF before discharge, prevalence of BF at the sixth month was 32·4 %, with the highest reduction observed between the first and fourth months. Prevalence of EBF at 48 h was 18·8 % and fell gradually to 5·0 % at the sixth month. Mothers with higher educational attainment or higher family income were more likely to breast-feed until the sixth month. In terms of EBF, an association was observed only with education, which persisted until the sixth month. Other than social gradient, mode of delivery was the strongest determinant of BF initiation, exclusivity and continuation. Mothers who gave birth vaginally were three to four times more likely to initiate BF (OR=3·1; 95 % CI 1·7, 5·4) and EBF (OR=4·3; 95 % CI 2·7, 6·8).

The low prevalence of BF and EBF in Cyprus, together with the fact that caesarean section rates are currently among the highest in Europe, suggest the need for further research to understand this multidimensional phenomenon and for interdisciplinary policy action to protect, promote and support BF.

To assess the most important sociodemographic determinants of age at introduction of complementary foods in infancy.

A prospective birth cohort with increased risk of type 1 diabetes, recruited between 1996 and 2004. The families completed at home a follow-up form on the age at introduction of new foods and, for each clinic visit, a structured dietary questionnaire with 3 d food records.

Data from the Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention (DIPP) Project, Finland.

A cohort of 5991 infants (77 % of those invited) belonging to the DIPP Nutrition Study.

Sixty-three per cent of the infants were introduced to complementary foods, including infant formula, before the age of 4 months. The median age at introduction of infant formula was 1·5 months (range 0–18 months) and that of the first other complementary food 3·5 months (range 0·7–8 months). All sociodemographic and lifestyle factors studied were associated with the age at introduction of infant formula and/or first other complementary food. Female sex of the infant, being born in the southern region of Finland, living in a rural municipality, the presence of siblings, the mother or the father being a high-school graduate, high maternal professional education and maternal non-smoking during pregnancy predicted later introduction of complementary foods.

Compliance was relatively poor with the current recommendations for the age of introducing complementary foods. Small-sized young families with less well-educated parents were most prone to introduce complementary foods early.

To assess milk feeding on the maternity ward and during infancy, and their relationship to sociodemographic determinants. The validity of our 3-month questionnaire in measuring hospital feeding was assessed.

A prospective Finnish birth cohort with increased risk to type 1 diabetes recruited between 1996 and 2004. The families completed a follow-up form on the age at introduction of new foods and age-specific dietary questionnaires.

Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention (DIPP) project, Finland.

A cohort of 5993 children (77 % of those invited) participated in the main study, and 117 randomly selected infants in the validation study.

Breast milk was the predominant milk on the maternity ward given to 99 % of the infants. Altogether, 80 % of the women recalled their child being fed supplementary milk (donated breast milk or infant formula) on the maternity ward. The median duration of exclusive breast-feeding was 1·4 months (range 0–8) and that of total breast-feeding 7·0 months (0–25). Additional milk feeding on the maternity ward, short parental education, maternal smoking during pregnancy, small gestational age and having no siblings were associated with a risk of short duration of both exclusive and total breast-feeding. In the validation study, 78 % of the milk types given on the maternity ward fell into the same category, according to the questionnaire and hospital records.

The recommendations for infant feeding were not achieved. Infant feeding is strongly influenced by sociodemographic determinants and feeding practices on the maternity wards. Long-term breast-feeding may be supported by active promotion on the maternity ward.

An unbalanced diet is a main risk factor for several chronic diseases. This paper identifies groups of individuals with an unbalanced diet based on the consumption of nutrients. A characterisation of the groups may help to focus efforts aimed at improving the dietary behaviour of the population.

Using nutritional data of 1763 men and 2267 women participating in the German Nutrition Survey of 1998, we constructed two indices for diet quality that each combines a large amount of nutrients into a single indicator. The impact of sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics on the diet quality indices was analysed using multiple regression analyses.

The results show a considerable variation of diet quality between different groups of individuals. High diet quality in terms of the consumption of vitamins, minerals and trace elements is positively associated with income, education level, age, energy intake, food diversity, sport activity and vegetarianism. On the other hand, a low diet quality as indicated by high intakes of e.g. fat, sugar, alcohol and sodium can be expected when energy intake is high, for individuals of middle age and for pregnant and breast-feeding women.

The results of this study help to identify groups of individuals with preferable and non-preferable diet quality. For developing public health strategies, in particular the impact of age on diet quality seems to be interesting. The rising diet quality with increasing age could reflect a changing health consciousness. It could thus be a challenge for health policy to promote a healthy way of living focused especially on young individuals.