Assessment of the Nutritional Status of Bottle-Fed Infants and the Prevalence of Infections, Allergy and Diarrhea among Bottle Fed Infants and Its Comparison with Exclusively Breast Fed Infants Aged 0-6 Months

Abstract

Title: Assessment of the Nutritional Status of Bottle-fed Infants and the prevalence of infections, allergy and diarrhea among them and its comparison with exclusively breast fed inafants aged 0-6 months. Background: For the past few years, the rate of bottle-feeding practice during the first six months of the child’s life has shown a sharp increase, which necessitated to conduct a study to highlight the nutritional status of bottle-fed infants. Objectives: To assess the nutritional status of infants who are bottle-fed aged 0-6 months. To assess the prevalence of infections, diarrhea and allergy among bottle-fed infants. To compare the nutritional status of bottle-fed infants with eResult: The results of the study revealed that only 21% of exclusively breast-fed infants had normal weight when compared to bottle-fed infants i.e. 25%. Also, no significant differences were found in the nutritional status of both the groups (p>0.05) as 46% EBF infants were wasted, 70% infants were stunted while 44% were overweight when compared to BF infants i.e. 44% and 60% and 30%, respectively. However, the incidence of allergies, infections (cold and flu) and diarrhea was significantly (p<0.05) more prevalent in BF infants when compared to EBF infants. Conclusion: The study concluded that there are no significant differences in the nutritional status of exclusively breast-fed and bottle-fed infants. Whereas those infants who are bottle fed for the first six months are more prone to allergies, diarrhea and infections when compared to exclusively breast-fed infants.xclusively breast fed infants. Result: The results of the study revealed that only 21% of exclusively breast-fed infants had normal weight when compared to bottle-fed infants i.e. 25%. Also, no significant differences were found in the nutritional status of both the groups (p>0.05) as 46% EBF infants were wasted, 70% infants were stunted while 44% were overweight when compared to BF infants i.e. 44% and 60% and 30%, respectively. However, the incidence of allergies, infections (cold and flu) and diarrhea was significantly (p<0.05) more prevalent in BF infants when compared to EBF infants. Conclusion: The study concluded that there are no significant differences in the nutritional status of exclusively breast-fed and bottle-fed infants. Whereas those infants who are bottle fed for the first six months are more prone to allergies, diarrhea and infections when compared to exclusively breast-fed infants. Methodology: The data was collected from hospitals all over Karachi by purposive sampling. The sample size was 100 of which 50 were bottle-fed infants and 50 were exclusively breast-fed infants. The tool that was used to collect data was a questionnaire that covered different aspects including demographic, anthropometric measurements and overall health to assess the nutritional status of bottle-fed infants. A chi-square test was applied.Title: Assessment of the Nutritional Status of Bottle-fed Infants and the prevalence of infections, allergy and diarrhea among them and its comparison with exclusively breast fed inafants aged 0-6 months. Background: For the past few years, the rate of bottle-feeding practice during the first six months of the child’s life has shown a sharp increase, which necessitated to conduct a study to highlight the nutritional status of bottle-fed infants. Objectives: To assess the nutritional status of infants who are bottle-fed aged 0-6 months. To assess the prevalence of infections, diarrhea and allergy among bottle-fed infants. To compare the nutritional status of bottle-fed infants with exclusively breast fed infants. Methodology: The data was collected from hospitals all over Karachi by purposive sampling. The sample size was 100 of which 50 were bottle-fed infants and 50 were exclusively breast-fed infants. The tool that was used to collect data was a questionnaire that covered different aspects including demographic, anthropometric measurements and overall health to assess the nutritional status of bottle-fed infants. A chi-square test was applied.