In depth interviews
Interview questions developed by ProPAN (Process for the Promotion of
Child feeding) (PAHO, WHO, and UNICEF,2013) were adapted and used to
collect data about how mothers feed complementary foods to their
children at 6, 9 and 12 months of the child’s life (responsive feeding
practices). Before undertaking the data collection, interview guides
were reviewed and piloted to check that the questions were enabling the
most pertinent information to be gathered. Table 1. summarizes the main
content of the interview guide. Questions asked the mothers how they fed
their children during the main meal (lunch), the day before the
interview. Mother encouragement during feeding was assessed by asking
mothers (1) if they did anything to encourage the child to eat and what
they did, (2) if mothers talked to the child during feeding and what
they told to their children and how they managed food refusal. Mothers
were also asked what they do if the child stops eating or when she feels
her child is still hungry or did not eat enough. Strategies to motivate
the child to eat, and if not, the reasons for not motivating the child
to eat or difficulties she would have in doing this were also a topic of
the interviews. Mothers were also asked if the child was sometimes given
the opportunity to self-feed at any time during feeding episode. Each
follow-up interview included a review of previous interviews to
encourage focus on the longitudinal nature of mother -child interaction
during feeding and validate data from the previous interview[17].
For instance, at 9 and 12 months, the interviewer asked the mothers if
they made some changes in the ways they interact with their babies
during feeding from the last visit. If yes, mothers were invited to talk
more about changes they made and the reasons behind changes.