Assessing complementary feeding practices using WHO 2021 Indicators: Insights from Delhi's socioeconomic groups

Area of Science:

• Child Nutrition
• Public Health
• Socioeconomic Determinants of Health

Background:

• Complementary feeding is crucial for child development (6-23 months).
• Socioeconomic status significantly impacts nutritional outcomes.
• Understanding feeding practices in diverse Indian settings is vital.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate complementary feeding practices in urban slum, low-income (LIG), and middle-income (MIG) groups in Delhi.
• To assess adherence to WHO 2021 Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) indicators.
• To identify nutritional gaps and disparities.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional survey of 439 mother-child pairs.
• Assessment using WHO 2021 IYCF indicators.
• Statistical analysis using STATA v.17.

Main Results:

• Middle-income groups showed better practices but all groups had suboptimal feeding.
• Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD) met by only 17% (MIG), 8.7% (LIG), 10% (slum).
• High consumption of unhealthy snacks (22%+) and low fruit/vegetable intake (65%+) observed.

Conclusions:

• Significant disparities in feeding practices exist across socioeconomic strata.
• Widespread low diet diversity and nutrient inadequacy require immediate attention.
• Targeted behavior change communication is essential for improving child nutrition.