Abstract
Infants are the most vulnerable group among all the age groups in our society. Breastfeeding decisions and practices are influenced by multiple factors including knowledge, attitude and beliefs. This rural based cross sectional descriptive study carried out among 320 mothers having infant up to 1 year of selected villages at Dhamrai from 7th August to 31 th January 2014, to determine the characteristics of feeding practices and nutritional status of infants. Near fifty. percent infants belonged to age group 9-12 months and of them one third were more than 8 kg. Regarding feeding status 284(88.8%) of respondents got colostrum's bit about fifty-five percent mother did not know the benefit of exclusive breastfeeding. The observation regarding complementary feeding 142(50.9%) infants were started after six months of age and the common types of complementary food were khichuri (49.7%), shagu, suji (21.5%), fruit juice (6.8%) given as family food. It was found that 208(65%) mothers were encouraged by doctors to practice weaning food. The prevalence of severe underweight and moderate underweight in the studied children were 10.9% and 14.1% respectively, the prevalence of moderate and severe wasting children was 6.2% and 3.2% respectively and the prevalence of severely and moderately stunted children were 8.3% and 10.9% respectively. Proper breastfeeding practices are effective ways for reducing infant morbidity and mortality. So it may be concluded that correct breast feeding practices should be supported and promoted to improve the well-being of infants.
Highlights
Exclusive breastfeeding can be defined as a practice whereby the infants receive only breast milk and not even water, other liquids, tea, herbal preparations, or food during the first six months of life, with the exception of vitamins, mineral supplements, or medicines.[1]
It was found that 208(65%) mothers were encouraged by doctors to practice weaning food for children, while 64(20%) encouraged by their relatives
The study found that 284(88.8%) newborns were breastfed and were given colostrums as first fed which was similar to that of results of NDHS 2011.27 The few difficulties faced by mothers for exclusive breast feeding in the current study were ignorance, illness and insufficient breast milk
Summary
Exclusive breastfeeding can be defined as a practice whereby the infants receive only breast milk and not even water, other liquids, tea, herbal preparations, or food during the first six months of life, with the exception of vitamins, mineral supplements, or medicines.[1]. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed for the first six months, followed by breastfeeding along with complementary foods for up to two years of age or beyond.[2]. Colostrum deprivation, supplementary feeding of breast milk substitutes, early introduction of complementary feeding, and incorrect weaning from breast milk are commonly found practices in communities around the world.3-7Adequate nutrition during infancy and early childhood is essential to ensure the growth, health, and development of children to their full potential.[8]. Six months of exclusive breastfeeding and continued breastfeeding in the first year of life could prevent 1.3 million child deaths worldwide according to systematic reviews from the Bellagio Child Survival Study Group. To achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG 4) for child survival and the prevention of malnutrition (MDG 3), adequate nutrition and health during the first several years of life is fundamental.[14]. For greater understanding and addressing the issue further, the present study was conducted in a rural setting with the aim to determine the characteristics and nutritional status of infants
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