Fuente: "milk OR dairy products" Inquiry. 2026 Jan-Dec;63:469580261436352. doi: 10.1177/00469580261436352. Epub 2026 Mar 30.ABSTRACTMixing pediatric medications with food is a common caregiver strategy to overcome challenges such as poor palatability, swallowing difficulties, and child refusal. This study aimed to assess maternal knowledge, perceptions, and practices concerning the preparation and mixing of pediatric medications with food in Palestine. A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and December 2025 in the West Bank, Palestine. Mothers were recruited from primary healthcare centers, antenatal clinics, and governmental hospitals across Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarem, Qalqilya, and Tubas. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. A total of 385 mothers participated. The majority of mothers reported not mixing medications with food (n = 267, 69.4%). Among those who did mix, the most common motivations were child refusal (n = 118, 30.6%) and unpleasant taste (n = 69, 17.9%). Urban mothers were significantly less likely to have been counseled about the safety of mixing compared with rural mothers (14.3% vs 16.1%, P = .021), and less likely to perceive mixing as safe (14.0% vs 15.8%, P = .022). Maternal age was positively associated with awareness that milk or juice may reduce drug efficacy (median 34.0 years [IQR 28.0-40.0] vs 32.0 years [IQR 26.0-37.0], P = .035), as was the age of the youngest child (median 4.0 years [IQR 1.5-7.0] vs 2.0 years [IQR 1.0-5.0], P = .021), suggesting that experiential factors influence knowledge acquisition. Nearly all mothers expressed a desire for additional information and educational support (n = 371, 96.4%), underscoring a critical unmet need. This study provides novel evidence on maternal knowledge and practices regarding medication-food mixing in Palestine. Findings highlight geographic disparities and age-related differences in awareness, alongside persistent gaps in counseling. Addressing these through culturally tailored education, strengthened healthcare provider involvement, and policy-level support could improve medication safety, adherence, and child health outcomes.PMID:41909930 | DOI:10.1177/00469580261436352