Abstract
Across sectional study was carried out to evaluate the feeding pattern of malnourished children and to study the association between their demographic and nutritional variables. The study was conducted on 157 infants and children aged 2-36 months (65 males and 92 females) attending Nutritional Rehabilitation Center In Basrah General Hospital during the period from November 2007 till the end of May 2008. Selected demographic variables, feeding pattern, age of administration and type of different complementary foods and frequency of these food items were recorded. Measurement of weight and height or length by standard procedures was done for all infants and children recruited in the study. Anthropometric data were applied to appropriate charts: weight for length Z score, weight for age Z-score and height for age Z-score which were estimated according to CDC/WHO charts. all studied children were underweight; (93.6%) wasted and (87.3%) were stunted, (9.5% and 90.5%) were with severe and moderate wasting respectively, (38% and 62%) with severe and moderate stunting respectively, (45.9%, 54%) with severe and moderate underweight respectively. Study of feeding pattern of malnourished children has revealed that (28.7%) were on breastfeeding; (36.9%) formula feeding & (34.4%) with mixed feeding. Regarding the duration of breastfeeding; (75.8%) were breastfed less than 12 months. The age onset of complementary feeding; 71(65.1%) of children had their complementary feeding at age of 4-6 months. Malnourished children consume mainly cereals & rice in high proportion (38.9%, 56.1%) and least for fish and meat (3.8%, 4.5%) respectively. Children were given complementary food on daily bases in order of frequency of administration; (7%) were given rice, (5.7%) vegetables, (3.2%) cereals, (2.5%) eggs and (1.9%) fruits. Other foods were never on daily bases or even occasionally (> 1/wk) including meat, fish, legumes; they were never given in (95.5%, 96% & 88.5%) respectively. In conclusion: there was a significant positive correlation between age of onset of complementary feeding and underweight.
Highlights
I nappropriate feeding practices is still believed to account for at least one-third of causes of malnutrition, and contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality, among children under five. [1] The link has been well established
The present study was carried out to identify pattern of feeding practices in malnourished children admitted to nutritional rehabilitation centre and study related demographic characteristic of these children and their mothers
Severe malnutrition is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among children under the age of five years worldwide, many severely malnourished children die at home without care but even when hospital care is provided, case fatality rate may be high.[6]
Summary
I nappropriate feeding practices is still believed to account for at least one-third of causes of malnutrition, and contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality, among children under five. [1] The link has been well established. Over 2/3 of these deaths are often associated with inappropriate feeding practices and occur during the first year of life. Exclusive breastfeeding in the early months of life is correlated strongly with increased infant survival and lowered risk of illness, from diarrheal disease. Development and health, WHO recommends that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life and that breastfed should continue for up to two years of age or beyond.[2]Complementary feeding begins either too early or too late with foods which are often nutritionally inadequate and unsafe. Poor feeding practices in infancy and early childhood, resulting in malnutrition, contribute to impaired cognitive and social development, poor school performance and reduced productivity in later life. The child anthropometric data (weight, length or height) are applied to appropriate charts: weight for length Z-score, weight for age Z score, height for age Z-score which were estimated according to CDC/WHO normalized references, and each child's measures were classified as follows: [4,5] *Regarding weight/height chart: >-1 SD normal,-1 SD mild wasting -2 SD moderate wasting, -1 SD normal,-1 SD mild underweight -2 SD moderate underweight, -1 SD normal,-1SD mild stunting -2 SD moderate stunting, < -3 SD severe stunting
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