Is camel milk protein suitable for infants? Understanding mothers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices
IntroductionCamel 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...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1613806/full |
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| author | Morgambal Padayachee Samir K. H. Safi Monia Kittana Hessa Salem Al Derei Muneera Khajjah Mozah Salem Obaid Khameis Aldhanhani Hessa Mohammed Helal Alrashedi Priti Mudgil Sajid Maqsood Amita Attlee |
| author_facet | Morgambal Padayachee Samir K. H. Safi Monia Kittana Hessa Salem Al Derei Muneera Khajjah Mozah Salem Obaid Khameis Aldhanhani Hessa Mohammed Helal Alrashedi Priti Mudgil Sajid Maqsood Amita Attlee |
| author_sort | Morgambal Padayachee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionCamel 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).MethodsUsing convenience sampling, a bilingual structured questionnaire with Cronbach-alpha-tested reliability of 0.865 was completed by 502 mothers, both UAE Nationals and expatriates.ResultsResults 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 toward 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 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.DiscussionOverall, 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-758a9268c0b044a1865862a1e3f5c866 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2571-581X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
| spelling | doaj-art-758a9268c0b044a1865862a1e3f5c8662025-08-20T02:48:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2025-07-01910.3389/fsufs.2025.16138061613806Is camel milk protein suitable for infants? Understanding mothers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practicesMorgambal Padayachee0Samir K. H. Safi1Monia Kittana2Hessa Salem Al Derei3Muneera Khajjah4Mozah Salem Obaid Khameis Aldhanhani5Hessa Mohammed Helal Alrashedi6Priti Mudgil7Sajid Maqsood8Amita Attlee9Department of Nutrition and Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Statistics and Business Analytics, College of Business and Economics, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Nutrition and Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Nutrition and Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Nutrition and Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Food Science, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Nutrition and Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Food Science, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Food Science, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Nutrition and Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab EmiratesIntroductionCamel 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).MethodsUsing convenience sampling, a bilingual structured questionnaire with Cronbach-alpha-tested reliability of 0.865 was completed by 502 mothers, both UAE Nationals and expatriates.ResultsResults 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 toward 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 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.DiscussionOverall, 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.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1613806/fullcamel milkpediatriccomplementary foodinfant formulamilk allergy |
| spellingShingle | Morgambal Padayachee Samir K. H. Safi Monia Kittana Hessa Salem Al Derei Muneera Khajjah Mozah Salem Obaid Khameis Aldhanhani Hessa Mohammed Helal Alrashedi Priti Mudgil Sajid Maqsood Amita Attlee Is camel milk protein suitable for infants? Understanding mothers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems camel milk pediatric complementary food infant formula milk allergy |
| title | Is camel milk protein suitable for infants? Understanding mothers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices |
| title_full | Is camel milk protein suitable for infants? Understanding mothers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices |
| title_fullStr | Is camel milk protein suitable for infants? Understanding mothers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices |
| title_full_unstemmed | Is camel milk protein suitable for infants? Understanding mothers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices |
| title_short | Is camel milk protein suitable for infants? Understanding mothers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices |
| title_sort | is camel milk protein suitable for infants understanding mothers knowledge attitudes and practices |
| topic | camel milk pediatric complementary food infant formula milk allergy |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1613806/full |
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