Weaning practices in other parts of the world: case study India

Infant feeding and weaning practices in India continue to demonstrate that a significant number of infants do not receive colostrum (62.8% according to the National Family Health Survey, NFHS-2), though breastfeeding is universal and continued for a longer period. In NFHS-3 (2005-2006), there is improving trend for breastfeeding within the first hour of birth (23.4%) and exclusive breastfeeding up to 5 months (46.3%); however, weaning for semisolids is delayed (55.8% only at 6-9 months of age). The infant weaning foods are inadequate in energy-protein and micronutrients. Further, weaning foods and feeding/cooking utensils are contaminated with bacteria, resulting in frequent episodes of diarrhea. Indeed, these are the factors responsible for initiation and continuation of early malnutrition which the country has failed to control as observed in the three NFHS. Over a span of 7 years, i.e. from NFHS-2 (1998-1999) to NFHS-3, there was only marginal reduction in undernutrition. Thus, uncontrolled fetal malnutrition, poor initiation of breastfeeding, inadequate and delayed weaning, and contaminated food and water demand urgency to develop affordable hygienic weaning foods, education to clean utensils, timely weaning and available potable chlorinated water to prevent and control malnutrition.