A Study on Infant Feeding Practices and Growth Assessment in Field Practice Area of PIMS, Karimnagar

Abstract

Background: The common cause of deaths in 50% of children below the age of 5 years is undernutrition. It is estimated that 13 – 16% of these deaths can be easily avoided by exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months. An additional 6% of deaths may be avoided by appropriate complementary feeding till the age of 2 years. We in the current study tried to evaluate the infant feeding practices in the field are of PIMS, Karimnagar. Methods: The variables recorded wereReligion, Literacy status, and socioeconomic status: Socio-economic status was recorded based on Modified Kuppuswamy Classification.Type of family, Type of House, Birth Weight, and Immunization status. A Predesigned and pre-tested proforma was used the investigator interviewed the mother in the local language using a predesigned proforma. Each infant-mother was interviewed for about 40 minutes. Sample size calculation AP prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding is 67.2 (NFHS -3), Calculation of sample size for qualitative data the total was rounded to n=400 Results: And all the babies were given colostrum feeding. 302 (75.4%) of mothers had initiated breastfeeding within 2-4 hours followed by 85 (21.3%) who were breastfed within the first one hour, 8(2%) who were breastfed within 7-12 Hrs, 4(1%) who were breastfed within 12-24 hrs. Weight for age, 284 (71%) of childrenwere normal, 86 (21.5%) were moderately underweight and 30 (7.5%) wereseverely underweight.When length for age was assessed, 58 (14.5%) weremoderately stunted and 24 (6%) severely stunted. For length for weight, thepresent study observed that 87 (21.75%) had moderate wasting and 43(10.75%) had severe wasting. A significant difference was noted betweenboys and girls with regards to weight for age and length for weight. Conclusion: The overall new-born care practices were good in the present study area. The majority (99%) of the deliveries were conducted in institutions by a skilled birth attendant. Three fourth of the women had an interval of 25-36 months between the previous two successive deliveries. Most (94.1%) of the new-born were wrapped immediately after birth and bathing of the new-born was delayed till 2 days (70.6%) to avoid hypothermia. However, practices like application on the umbilical cord and giving bath to the new-born were also observed on certain occasions.