Association of Morbidity Profile with Breastfeeding and Feeding Practices: A Community-Based Study among Infants in a Slum of Kolkata

Abstract

Introduction: Breastfeeding, in spite of being a common practice in India, is associated with myths and superstitions. Moreover, due to effect of modernisation, industrialisation and globalization, breastfeeding is largely replaced by commercial baby food. Yet, it is breastfeeding which provides full nutritional requirement of infant of 0–6 months. This study was conducted to assess the impact of breastfeeding on the morbidity profile of infants. Method: The study was conducted in Chetla, under the purview of All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health (AIIH&PH) Kolkata among 85 infants. Morbidity of the children was considered at the time of the interview and also within 14 days prior to date of interview. History regarding infant feeding practice and also information regarding socio-demographic factors were collected in predesigned and pretested schedule. Results: Prevalence of morbidity among infants was 48.2%. Prelacteal feeding was negligible (1.2%) and 100% of the babies had history of colostrum feeding. Of all, 60.3% infants had history of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for 6 months, 84.2% infants had started complementary feeding between 6 and 9 months, but only 42.1% babies had history of starting complementary feeding with homemade semisolid food. Prevalence of morbidity was significantly more among infants without EBF for 6 months in bivariate analysis (OR = 7) and also after adjusting with other co-variates (OR = 277.3). Conclusion: EBF for 6 months was associated with decreased morbidity among infants in the present study. So efforts are needed for promotion of EBF for 6 months with timely and appropriate complementary feeding practices.