International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-7802032017041817851785ENDepartment of Public Health, School of Public Health, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, HamadanDepartment of Public Health, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, HamadanDepartment of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Modeling of Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, HamadanDepartment of Public Health, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan20170418<p><strong>Background</strong>: Providing a variety of foods has been emphasized as one of the most important features of optimal complementary feeding. This study investigated key beliefs that guide mothers&rsquo; intention to adherence to dietary diversity in their 1&ndash;2‑year‑old children&rsquo;s complementary feeding.</p><p><strong>Methods</strong>: This was a cross‑sectional study involving 290 mothers (mean age = 27, standard deviation = 5.32) with child 1&ndash;2‑year‑old attending maternal and child health section of health centers in Rasht, Iran. To represent the socioeconomic status of the participants, 6 centers out of 15 were selected from three different socioeconomic areas (low‑, middle‑, and high‑income areas). Mothers completed a questionnaire assessing intention and belief‑based items of theory of planned<br />behavior. Correlations and multiple regression analyses were performed.</p><p><strong>Results</strong>: The mean age of mothers was 27 &plusmn; 5.33 (27&ndash;43 years). Regression analyses revealed that among behavioral beliefs, the perception that adherence to dietary diversity would lead to improve children&rsquo;s growth was the<br />significant predictor of intention (&beta; = 0.13, P = 0.04). Regarding normative beliefs, perceived social pressure from health‑care professionals to adherence to dietary diversity significantly predicted intention (&beta; = 0.15, P = 0.01). Among control beliefs, the perception that daily pressures made difficult adherence to dietary diversity was the key determinant (&beta; = 0.19, P = 0.01).</p><p><strong>Conclusions</strong>: Findings of this study represent the important beliefs that can be addressed in development planning aimed at<br />modifying mothers&rsquo; child complementary feeding practices.</p><p><strong>Keywords</strong>: Beliefs, complementary feeding, mothers, theory of planned behavior</p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/1785http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/1785/2074