Abstract

The infant feeding practices and home environment of346 children aged 0–5 years suffering from proteinenergy malnutrition (PEM) in Sudan was studied. Breast-feeding was the preferred type of infant feeding. The addition of complementary foods (external foods given in addition to breast milk during the breast-feeding period) was delayed in 46% of the children. Weaning or complete withdrawal from breastmilk before one year of age occurred in 35% of the children. The main reasons for weaning were the illness of the baby, illness of the mother and another pregnancy. Complementary and supplementary foods (external foods given at time of weaning or complete withdrawal from bresst milk) such as milk, porridge, soup and family food were improperly prepared. Eighteight percent of households did not have a clean water supply and latrine. It was postulated that improper feeding practices and poor environment was the cause of PEM in these children. Health education of the mother, health professionals and the community were suggested to combat the problem.

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