factors affecting knowledge, attitude and practice of mothers referring to health centers for supplementary feeding of their 6-24 month old children

a total of 250 mothers were interviewed in kashan health centers in 1995 to obtain information on their knowledge, attitude, and practice (k.a.p) regarding supplementary feeding (sf) of their 6-24 month old children. the k, a and p regarding the kind of the first sf. were desirable in 29.2%, 72.8% and 31.6% of the mothers respectively. the corresponding percentages for the time of introduction of sf., the amount of the first sf, methods of feeding, and keeping left-over food were; 92.4% , 90.4% and 80.4% (k.a.p) ; 41.2%, 69.2% and 39.6% (k.a.p); 84.0%, 56.8% and 72.4% (k.a.p); and 100% , 97.2% and 97.2% (k.a.p); respectively. there was a statistically significant relation between the knowledge and attitude of mothers and mothers’ age and education; knowledge of mothers and occupation and their sources of information. the relation between k.a.p and all other independent variable were statistically nonsignificant, but there was a statistically significant relation between the mothers’ attitude and birth order of a child. there was no correlation between knowledge and attitude or between attitude and practice in general, but there was a significant correlation between knowledge and practice.