Possible effect of maternal safe food preparation behavior on child malnutrition in Benin, Africa.

Background: In many developing countries, faulty complementary feeding practises and frequently contaminated foods are contributing factors to child malnutrition. The aims of this study were to evaluate the nutrition status of, and clarify the maternal safe food preparation behaviors associated with malnutrition in, children aged <5 years in Cotonou, Benin.

Methods: This study targeted 300 mother-child pairs visiting the University Hospital of Mother and Child Cotonou Lagoon.