Study of Feeding Practices and Vaccination Status Effect on Growth and Illness in Children of 6months to 2years

Abstract

Introduction: feeding practices and vaccination status are the major determinants of a child’s growth and nutritional well-being. Objective: is to identify the factors affecting the growth pattern and causing illnesses in children less than 2 years based on their feeding and vaccination practices. Methods: This cross sectional observational study was conducted at the pediatrics outpatient department (OPD) attached to a tertiary care center, Shardaben Hospital, Smt.NHL Municipal Medical College, Ahmedabad, over a period of three months, September to November 2016.All written questionnaires were administered to the mother of the child aged 6 months to 2 years. Results: Out of the 351 children in the study, 61.8% were exclusively breast fed up to 6 months.12 (3.4%) were non vaccinated, 76(21.7%) partially vaccinated, 42(12%) were severely malnourished. Among those children who were not exclusively breast fed till 6m, had higher incidence of illnesses and severe malnutrition. From the 12(3.4%) children who were non vaccinated, 8(66.7%) had diarrhea, 3(25%) had pneumonia and 3(25%) severely malnourished. Conclusions: This study shows with certainty that feeding and vaccination practices are some of the major determinants of a child’s overall wellbeing.

Keywords

• Exclusive breastfeeding
• complementary feeding
• vaccination
• malnutrition