Faulty feeding practices in children less than 2 years of age and their association with nutritional status: A study from a rural medical college in Central India

Abstract

Background: Undernutrition has a direct correlation with the prevailing feeding practices. Early years are crucial in determining the rate and extent of growth and mainly depend on the level of nutrition and care provided. The first episode of growth faltering occurs mostly in children <2 years of age that often goes unnoticed. Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the faulty feeding practices, their determinants, and association with nutritional status in children <2 years of age. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study using mixed (qualitative and quantitative) methods was conducted in a sample of 187 mothers and their children at the mother and child health (MCH) clinic of a rural medical college. Results: Only 144 (77%) of the study children had received colostrum. 47 (25.1%) of the mothers had used prelacteal feeds. Although breastfeeding (BF) was universal, only 133 (71.1%) of the mothers were exclusively breastfeeding (EBF) their children. The duration of each feed was an issue; in 49 (32.4%) of the children, the duration of each feed was <10 min with almost all the mothers swapping the baby to other breast during one episode of feeding. Not giving colostrum, not giving EBF, duration of feeds <10 min, swapping the breasts during each feed, and decreased frequency of feeding during illness were found to be significantly associated with poor nutritional status. Conclusion: In our study, we found out that although practice of BF was universal, there is definite scope for further improving the practices. A definite gap between knowledge and practice was observed, which was associated with adverse nutritional outcomes.

Keywords

• Breastfeeding
• complementary feeding
• malnutrition
• prelacteal