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Influence of infant-feeding practices on nutritional status of under-five children

Dinesh Kumar1, N K Goel, Poonam C Mittal

  • 1Department of Community Medicine, GMCH, Sector 32A, Chandigarh, India. dinesh_walia@rediffmail.com

Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|June 3, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Delayed breastfeeding, lack of colostrum, and improper weaning significantly increase undernutrition risk in children under five. Promoting optimal infant feeding is crucial for better child nutrition outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Nutrition Science

Background:

  • Undernutrition remains a critical public health issue among children under five in urban settings.
  • Infant feeding practices are recognized as key determinants of nutritional status.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the nutritional status of children under five in urban Allahabad's anganwari (AW) areas.
  • To determine the association between infant feeding practices and undernutrition in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Nutritional assessment using WHO criteria (weight-for-age, height-for-age, weight-for-height) for under-five children.
  • Statistical analysis including Chi-square tests and odds ratios to assess associations with feeding practices.

Main Results:

  • High prevalence of underweight (36.4%), stunting (51.6%), and wasting (10.6%) was observed.
  • Delayed breastfeeding, no colostrum, and improper complementary feeding were significant risk factors for underweight (P<0.05).
  • Wasting was not significantly linked to infant feeding practices; ICDS benefits did not improve nutritional status.

Conclusions:

  • Suboptimal infant feeding practices, including delayed breastfeeding initiation, lack of colostrum, and improper weaning, are significant contributors to undernutrition.
  • Interventions promoting and protecting optimal infant feeding are essential for improving child nutritional status.
Abstract

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