Is camel milk protein suitable for infants? Understanding mothers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices

M Padayachee¹Samir K Safi²Monia Kittana¹Hessa Salem Al Derei¹Munira Abdulrazak Kajajah¹Mozah Aldhanhani³Hessa Helal Tannaf Alrashedi¹Priti Mudgil³Sajid Maqsood³AMITA ATTLEE^1*

• ¹Department of Nutrition and Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• ²Department of Statistics, College of Business and Economics, United Arab Emirates University, Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
• ³College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, AlAin, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Camel milk, with its resemblance to human milk and therapeutic properties, has potential as a substitute/complementary food for infants. To commercialize camel milk and its products specifically for infants, this research was imperative to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices among mothers about the acceptance of camel milk and its products for babies (0-2 years old) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Using convenience sampling, a bilingual structured questionnaire with Cronbach-alpha-tested reliability of 0.865 was completed by 502 mothers, both UAE Nationals and expatriates. Results showed an inadequate awareness about exclusive breastfeeding, with only 54.7% aware of its correct duration. However, most participants (59.8%) did not know if it was suitable for use in babies, and 76.1% were not aware of any health benefits associated with its use in babies. Based on a five-point Likert scale (from 0-4), mean score exceeding neutral score of 2 indicated mothers' positive attitudes towards camel milk and its products: culturally acceptable (2.77) and acceptable to their babies (3.09).Moreover, the current practice of using camel milk as an alternative to human milk was not reported in those mothers who did not breastfeed their babies. Furthermore, mothers' employment, lower birth order of the babies, mothers' knowledge about the camel milk use for babies, its use in complementary foods, and associated health benefits emerged as factors significantly influencing their decision to use camel milk, its infant formula, and products in complementary feeds for the 0-2 years old babies. Overall, promoting camel milk and its products as a sustainable nutritional alternative for 0-2 years old babies necessitates a multifaceted approach that includes raising awareness and fostering a positive attitude among mothers to support its acceptance. Future research should systematically explore consumer demand, maternal perceptions, and safety considerations, with a focus on establishing evidence-based guidelines for the appropriate use of camel milk products in early childhood nutrition.