Placement of Feeding Practices with Special Emphasis on Breast-feeding for Children in Pediatric Hospitals at Thi-Qar Health Directorate

Abstract

Infant feeding practices comprising of both the complementary feeding as well as breast-feeding has major roles in determining the nutritional status of the child. Worldwide, it is estimate that only 34.7% of infants are exclusively breastfed for first 6 months of the life, the majority receiving some other fluid or food in the beginning early months. Assess child-feeding practices with special emphasis breast-feeding in children between six-three years of age. This study cross-sectional study was carried out in an urban population of Nasiriya city from Bint-Alhuda Teaching Hospital and Mohamed al-mossowi hospital, in children between six to three years of age. Assume the prevalence of breast-feeding to be 50% the sample size was taken as 200 children. Information regarding child-rearing practice was collected by interviewing mother by room-to-room visit on predesigned and pretested Performa. Data was statistically and analyzed evaluated The study showed that 15% mothers started breastfeeding within first hour of birth, 29.5% started complementary feeding at six month, while 5.5% exclusively breastfed for six month duration. 79.5% were given food from four or more group. Minimum meal frequency was adequate in 24.5% while minimum acceptable diet was 37.5%.