Maternal and child health

Maternal and infant nutrition survey

After the UK Infant Feeding Survey was discontinued, we decided to carry out a maternal and infant nutrition survey for Scotland. Our aim with this survey was to gather data that would:

• inform the work of early years organisations
• design and implement effective nutritional support for families
• improve the health of Scotland's children and pregnant women

Issuing the survey

Between March and July 2017, questionnaires were issued to pregnant women and mothers with babies at three different stages :

• during pregnancy
• when the baby was between eight and 12 weeks old
• when the baby was between eight and 12 months old

The survey gathered quantitative data not available from other sources on:

• maternal nutrition at preconception
• maternal nutrition during pregnancy
• breastfeeding
• infant feeding
• wider health behaviours

Outcomes

The maternal and infant nutrition survey results were published in February 2018. The data provided gives NHS boards the evidence required to set targets and indicators and to measure outcomes.