Bottle Feeding Research Articles

Mothers' Employment and Exclusive Breastfeeding Practices: A Brief Report from Jerusalem Governorate.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that women exclusively breastfeed for the first six months and continue breastfeeding until two years of age. However, breastfeeding is declining, especially in developing countries. This study aims to describe breastfeeding habits and demographic factors influencing these practices in Jerusalem Governorate. Self-reporting questionnaires were sent to 481 mothers of preschoolers asking about the type of feeding used with their children, breastfeeding exclusively, bottle feeding, and a combination of both. Data were also collected about the duration of breastfeeding to classify women into those who adhered to the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations and those who did not. We received 471 complete questionnaires. Two hundred and five mothers exclusively breastfed their children for 6 months or more (44.1%). Almost 11% (n = 52) used bottle feeding exclusively, and 44.2% (n = 208) combined both breastfeeding and bottle feeding. Having a full-time job increased the chance of not breastfeeding children (π2 = 9.2, p = 0.002), and being a stay-at-mother increased the chance of exclusive breastfeeding (π2 = 4.4, p = 0.044). In the final model, having a preterm baby and being a stay-at-home mother increased the odds of exclusively breastfeeding by 3.6 and 2.3, respectively. On the other hand, having a full-time job decreased the odds by 0.3. A mother's full-time employment was a determinant factor in abandoning exclusive breastfeeding before 6 months. Policies, regulations, and laws supporting the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding practices until 6 months in mothers as recommended by the WHO should be reinforced.

Determinants of complementary feeding practices among children aged 6–24 months in urban slums of Pune, Maharashtra, in India

BackgroundInequalities in child feeding practices are evident in urban slums in developing nations. Our study identified the determinants of complementary feeding (CF) practices in the informal settings of Pune, India, a district close to the business capital of India.MethodsEmploying a cross-sectional study design, 1066 mother–children dyads were surveyed. Five indicators defined by the WHO were used to study complementary feeding practices. Determinants of complementary feeding practices were identified using multivariate analyses.ResultsTimely initiation of CF was reported by 42%. Minimum acceptable diet (MAD), minimum meal frequency (MMF), and Diet Diversity Score > 4 were achieved by 14.9%, 76.5%, and 16.4%, respectively. Continued breastfeeding (CBF) at 2 years, and feeding processed foods were practiced by 94% and 50%, respectively. Among the maternal characteristics, a mother’s age > 30 years at pregnancy was less likely to achieve DD [AOR: 0.195 (CI 0.047–0.809)] and MAD [AOR: 0.231 (CI 0.056–0.960)]. Mothers with lower education were less likely to meet MMF [AOR: 0.302 (0.113–0.807)], MAD [AOR: 0.505 (CI 0.295–0.867)] and to introduce formula feeds (FF) [AOR: 0.417 (0.193- 0.899)]. Among obstetric characteristics, birth spacing < 33 months was less likely to achieve DD [AOR: 0.594 (CI 0.365–0.965)] and CBF [AOR: 0.562 (CI: 0.322–0.982)]. Receiving IYCF counseling only during postnatal care hindered the timely initiation of CF [AOR: 0.638 (0.415–0.981)]. Very Low Birth Weight increased the odds of achieving DD [AOR: 2.384 (1.007–5.644)] and MAD [AOR: 2.588(CI: 1.054–6.352)], while low birth weight increased the odds of children being introduced to processed foods [AOR: 1.370 (CI: 1.056–1.776)]. Concerning socio-economic status, being above the poverty line increased the odds of achieving MMF, [AOR: 1.851 (1.005–3.407)]. Other backward castes showed higher odds of achieving MAD [AOR: 2.191 (1.208–3.973)] and undisclosed caste in our study setting decreased the odds of FF [AOR: 0.339 (0.170–0.677)]. Bottle feeding interfered with MMF [AOR: 0.440 (0.317–0.611)] and CBF [AOR: 0.153 (0.105–0.224)].ConclusionInvesting in maternal education and IYCF counseling during both ANC and PNC to provide nutritious complementary foods alongside addressing poverty should be a national priority to prevent the double burden of undernutrition at an early age in informal settings.

Tailored text messages to improve breastfeeding practices in Yangon, Myanmar: the M528 individually randomized controlled trial

BackgroundText messages are a feasible delivery channel for breastfeeding promotion, but only a few articles have examined their effectiveness. ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of mobile phone text messages on breastfeeding practices. DesignWe implemented a 2-arm, parallel, individually randomized controlled trial with 353 pregnant participants at the Central Women’s Hospital, Yangon. The intervention group (n = 179) received breastfeeding-promotion text messages, and the control group (n = 174) received other maternal and child health care messages. The primary outcome was the exclusive breastfeeding rate at 1–6 mo postpartum. Secondary outcomes were other breastfeeding indicators, breastfeeding self-efficacy, and child morbidity. Using the intention-to-treat approach, the available outcome data were analyzed with generalized estimation equation Poisson regression models to estimate RR and 95% CIs, adjusted for within-person correlation and time, and tested for treatment group-by-time interactions. ResultsExclusive breastfeeding prevalence was significantly higher in the intervention than in the control group for the 6 follow-up visits combined (RR: 1.48; 95%CI: 1.35, 1.63; P < 0.001) and at each monthly follow-up visit. At 6 mo, exclusive breastfeeding was 43.4% in the intervention compared with 15.3% in the control group (RR: 2.74; 95%CI: 1.79, 4.19; P < 0.001). Also, at 6 mo, the intervention increased current breastfeeding (RR: 1.17; 95%CI: 1.07, 1.26; P < 0.001) and reduced bottle feeding (RR: 0.30; 95%CI: 0.17, 0.54; P < 0.001). Exclusive breastfeeding was progressively higher in the intervention group than in the control group at each follow-up (P for interaction < 0.001) and similarly for current breastfeeding. The intervention increased the mean breastfeeding self-efficacy score (adjusted mean difference 4.0; 95%CI: 1.36, 6.64; P = 0.030). Over the 6-month follow-up, the intervention significantly reduced diarrhea risk by 55% (RR: 0.45; 95%CI: 0.24, 0.82; P < 0.009). ConclusionsRegular, targeted text messages delivered to urban pregnant women and mothers via mobile phones significantly improve breastfeeding practices and reduce infant morbidity during the first 6 mo of life. Trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12615000063516; https://anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=367704.

Associations between early introduction to complementary foods, subsequent cereal-added bottle feeding and daily macronutrient intake among infants

Introducing complementary foods early during infancy has been associated with an increased risk of overweight later in life, but the pathway is an understudied topic. Hence the study was conducted with low-income and primarily minority mother-infant dyads to: 1) understand how the introduction of complementary foods prior to 4 months was associated with socio-demographic characteristics and food security status; 2) determine the association between early introduction to complementary foods and breastfeeding and adding cereal into the bottle in later infancy (i.e., at 6 and 9 months), and; 3) examine how adding infant cereal into the bottle was related to daily calorie and macronutrient intake in infancy. We conducted interviews with mothers (n = 201) at 4 months of age and 24-h feeding recalls at age 6 and 9 months. Results indicated that 29% of the infants were fed complementary foods before 4 months of age. Introducing complementary foods early was negatively associated with breastfeeding and positively associated with adding cereal into the bottle at 6-months. This practice was more common among those who experienced marginal to very low levels of food security. Comparing by race/ethnicity, Latinx mothers were significantly less likely to introduce solids early. After controlling for sex, infants fed cereal in the bottle were consuming significantly more calories compared to their counterparts. Specifically, adding cereal into the bottle resulted in approximately 10% additional daily calorie intake among infants. Understanding how these feeding practices affect appetite development and weight status during infancy is warranted.

Optimization and Improvement of Chromatographic Techniques for Bisphenol A Extraction and Characterization from Infant Bottles

Chemicals with high manufacturing volumes, such as bisphenol A (BPA), find widespread use in thermal paper, epoxy resins, and polycarbonate plastics. However, due to its endocrine-disrupting properties, several consumer items have restricted or banned its use. As a result, BPA has been replaced by other chemical substances with similar structures in consumer goods. This study aims to enhance and validate a chromatographic method for detecting BPA in baby bottles using chemometrics tools. A Box-Behnken experimental design was employed to optimize the laboratory conditions for the maximum release of BPA through forced degradation. The study utilized three parameters as independent variables, including incubation temperature (35°C, 40°C, and 60°C), time (12 hours, 24 hours, and 36 hours), and solvent acetic acid concentration (2%, 3%, and 4%). A second-order polynomial model was proposed, and a total of 15 experiments with two replicates were conducted to determine the optimal extraction conditions. The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) partitioning method was used to determine peak areas of the different extracts, serving as responses. By applying the individual desirability approach, the optimal extraction conditions were found to be a temperature of 35 °C, an extraction time of 36 hours, and an acetic acid concentration of 4% (pH = 2.72). The method was validated according to the conditions recommended by the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) and SFSTP (Société Française des Sciences et Techniques Pharmaceutiques), ensuring high linearity, accuracy, precision, sensitivity, and robustness compared to existing liquid chromatographic methods. The improved method was applied to assess BPA levels in commercially available baby bottles, with 3 out of 7 samples testing positive for BPA, ranging from 0.615 ppb to 3.802 ppb. Notably, the enhanced method demonstrated a 12% increase in yield compared to the ISO EN 14350-2:2004 method. This study provides a reliable and effective approach for detecting BPA in baby bottles, addressing critical concerns related to consumer safety and regulatory compliance.

Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to Bisphenol A in Polymeric Baby Bottles.

In recent decades, paying attention to bisphenol A (BPA), as one of the endocrine disruptor compounds, has increased due to its harmful effects. Although, scattered studies have been conducted in order to measure BPA concentration migrated into polymeric baby bottles in different countries of the world, there are no review studies and evaluation with a global perspective in the field of BPA risk. Some of these studies indicated the potential risks and estrogenic effects associated with BPA in babies' daily intake. For this purpose, we reviewed the information on the migration levels of BPA into baby bottles has been reported in 10 countries. The potential risks associated with BPA through the daily intake as well as the estrogenic effect on 3 age groups of babies which include 0 to 6, 6 to 12, and 12 to 24 months were analyzed using the Monte Carlo simulation. Also, kinetic models were applied to predict the kinetics of the migration process of BPA. The median daily intake for 3 age groups was obtained as 191.1, 161.37, and 153.76 µg/kg/day, respectively; which indicated Hazard Index (HI) > 1. The median estrogenic effect for the 3 groups was estimated to be 0.021 ngE2/L. The kinetics of contaminant transfer with Polynomial model at 2 temperatures of 24°C and 40°C showed a better fit with R 2 = 0.99 and 0.91, respectively. Based on the risk assessment analysis conducted in the present study, the BPA migration in baby bottles appeared to be a health concern for babies. Therefore, it is needed to increase the safety level of bottles for babies as they are sensitive and vulnerable members of every society. Furthermore, in this study, only the investigation of the global situation of BPA in polymeric baby bottles was stated; therefore, more investigation about another potential sources of BPA in food chain is needed.

Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries and Its Association with Feeding Habits among 3–5 Year Old Preschool Children: A Cross-sectional Study in Chennai City, India

Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a form of dental caries affecting infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Aim: The study was carried out to determine the prevalence of ECC and its association with feeding habits among the preschool children aged 3–5 year old in Chennai city. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 342 randomly selected mother-child dyads in Chennai city. The mothers were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire comprising of their demographic data and child’s feeding habits. The presence of decay was assessed by a single trained examiner using the criteria described by the World Health Organization (2013). Data obtained were analyzed using Chi-square test. The significance level was set at P ≤ 0.05. Results: The overall ECC experience among the study subjects was 53.8%. Among the children who started bottle feeding at the age of 1–2 years, 72.9% belonged to the high caries group. The practice of nocturnal bottle feeding was observed in 39.6% children in the high caries group. Moreover, 56.2% in the high caries group were fed cow’s milk. ECC was higher among children who consumed snacks 1–3 times a day. Conclusion: Duration and frequency of bottle feeding, nocturnal feeding practice, feeding with cow’s milk, and frequent consumption of snacks, were significantly associated with ECC experience among the children. Data obtained may serve as a baseline for planning and evaluation of community development and oral health promotion programs.

A Qualitative Study on the Feeding Methods of Filipino Mothers of Children with Cleft Lip and Palate Aged 0 to 24 Months: A Pilot Study.

One of the early problems that children born with cleft lip and palate encounter is difficulty in feeding. This affects the child's nutritional needs and the timing of the surgical intervention. Information on the appropriate feeding methods for children with cleft lip and palate will enable mothers to feed their babies properly and facilitate the implementation of appropriate interventions. The study described the feeding problems experienced by children with cleft lip and palate (CLP), and cleft palate (CP) ages 0-24 months, the feeding methods most preferred by Filipino mothers, the methods they found most useful, and the mothers' reactions to the feeding issues their children face. The research is a pilot study which used a quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive mixed method design. Thirty-two (32) mothers of children with cleft lip and palate, and cleft palate answered an 11-item online survey and participated in focused interviews from January to June 2022. Inferential statistics was used specifically frequency distribution to describe the data, and Fishers' Exact Test and Pearson's Chi-Square Test were used to analyze the data quantitatively to determine the significant association between the variables identified. Results showed that the feeding problems encountered by the children included nasal regurgitation, sucking, aspiration of liquids, latching on nipples, and swallowing. Mothers preferred to use regular feeding bottles (24.3%), specialized feeding bottles for children with cleft (21.6%), breast feeding and dropper (17.6%), syringe (9.5%), cup (6.8%), and spoon feeding (2.7%) methods. They also mentioned that they found the following feeding methods to be the most useful, regular feeding bottles (32.7%), specialized feeding bottles for cleft (23.1%), breast feeding (11.5%), spoon and dropper feeding (7.7%), and syringe feeding (1.9%). The feeding problems experienced by Filipino children with CLP and CP mirror those that have been reported in other studies. The study revealed that mothers still prefer to use the traditional regular feeding bottles in feeding their babies and found this to be the most useful. Maternal reactions of the participants to the cleft condition and its feeding issues are similar to reported studies in other countries. The internet has been the primary source of information on cleft and feeding of the participants in the study.

Desenvolvimento alimentar de crianças com microcefalia: estudo descritivo

ABSTRACT Purpose: to describe feeding characteristics of children with microcephaly, encompassing the feeding route, food consistencies, and utensils used to feed them. Methods: a descriptive study approved by the Research Ethics Committee, including 34 caregivers of children diagnosed with microcephaly. They answered a structured interview on the children’s feeding route, breastfeeding, utensils used to feed them, and the food consistencies, besides sociodemographic and overall development data. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed, presenting absolute and percentage frequencies and measures of central tendency and dispersion. Results: the 34 caregivers in the sample were responsible for 34 children born between 2015 and 2018, diagnosed with microcephaly, due to various causes. Of these, 33 (97.02%) were on oral feeding in their first year of life - 26 (76.44%) on breastfeeding, nine of which (26.46%) exclusively so until 6 months old. The children were served food in baby bottles, cups, spoons, and syringes. Pureed food was the consistency most accepted by the children. Conclusions: there was a low prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding until they were 6 months old, delayed progress of consistencies, use of utensils inadequate to their age, and necessary adaptations to feed children, orally.

Aleitamento materno em crianças com microcefalia por síndrome congênita do vírus Zika

INTRODUCTION: Children with microcephaly are at increased risk for global developmental delay, physical and intellectual disability, and sensorineural changes. Records on growth and development, as well as records on the prevalence of breastfeeding, are still scarce in this population. OBJECTIVE: To identify duration and characterization of breastfeeding in children with microcephaly due to congenital ZIKV syndrome (SCZV) seen at a referral service. METHODOLOGY: Descriptive, cross-sectional, quantitative study. Data collection was performed on medical records and during interviews, using standardized questionnaires, during the months of September and November 2019. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 25.0 program. RESULTS: Fourteen children met the inclusion criteria and were included in this study. The average age was 43 months (20-50), and the average head circumference corresponded to 29.85 cm (25-34). Most children (92.9%) were breastfed. Eight children (57.2%) received exclusive breastfeeding and five (35.7%) received predominant breastfeeding. Only 21.4% suckled in the first hour of life. The mean time of BF was 14.67 months (04-37). Twelve mothers had already weaned during the data collection period. Three (21.4%) underwent gradual weaning and nine (64.3%) underwent abrupt weaning. All children used artificial teats (pacifiers, n = 14; baby bottles, n = 13), and in 50% of cases, this use occurred while still in the maternity ward. CONCLUSION: This study found a prevalence of 92.9% of breastfed children within the studied group, and an average duration of breastfeeding less than 2 years of age.

Violations in the marketing of milks and complementary foods that compete with breastfeeding in Rio de Janeiro City, Brazil.

ABSTRACTObjective:To analyze if milk and complementary foods are being sold under the Brazilian Code of Marketing of Infant and Toddler's Food, Teats, Pacifiers and Baby Bottles (NBCAL), Law 11265/2006 of breastfeeding protection.Methods:Epidemiological survey that analyzed the marketing practices of pharmacies, supermarkets, and department stores in the Southern region of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by direct observation.Results:Among the 349 stores in Rio de Janeiro's South Region, 339 traded milk and complementary foods and, among them, 60.8% were not complying with NBCAL. Infractions to NBCAL were more common for the selling of milk (58.6%) than complementary foods (22.8%). The most recurrent promotion strategy infringing NBCAL was discount pricing without the Ministry of Health disclaimer.Conclusions:Most retail stores infringe NBCAL in the commercialization of milk and complementary foods in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a violation of the right to information that may impact mothers’ choice regarding their child's feeding.

Isolation and Antifungal Susceptibility of Candida spp. from Pediatric Patients in Kurdistan of Iraq

Candida species are considered the most common opportunistic human fungal pathogen due to the presence of various virulence factors, including its ability to form a biofilm that aids in oral candidiasis. Pediatric patients are more susceptible to oral candidiasis than healthy pediatric because of the factors that encourage Candida oral carriage. This current study aims to isolate, evaluated the antifungal effect on Candida spp. and participated in oral candidiasis of pediatric patients in Sulaymaniyah and Kirkuk city. The study was performed from September 2021 to February 2022 on two groups of pediatrics which including pediatric patients (n=160) and healthy pediatric (n=50) as a control group. Oral swabs were obtained from 210 participants in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq at the Pediatric teaching hospital of the Sulaymaneyah and Kirkuk governorates. To culture the swabs, Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) medium was used. HiCrome™ Candida Differential agar used to identify Candida isolated, then depending on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region using confirmed polymerase chain reaction. Antifungal sensitivity was done for all C. albicans and non-albicans isolates using five common antifungal disks. Among of the 160 sample of pediatric patient 62 (38.8%) positive for Candida spp. which it is including 17 (27.4 %) and 26 (41.9%), 19 (30.6%) breast feeding, bottle feeding and mixing respectively. While within 50 samples of control group 13 (26%) were positive for Candida spp. which including 2 (15.4%), 9(69.2%), 2(15.4%) of same respectively feeding types. Regarding to the antifungal susceptibility the results showed that C. albicans had higher resistance rates against itraconazole, ketoconazole, and clotrimazole than the non-albicans Candida species However, highly resistant rate were detected in Itraconazole and Ketoconazole with 23.7% and 54.4% respectively, for all Candida species. The Current study concluded that oral candidiasis was more predominant in pediatric patients in compare to healthy pediatric also, and C. albicans is the most prevalent etiologic agent. However, higher rate of sensitivity were detected between Candida species for nystatin, which may suggest as the main treatment for oral Candida infections.

Knowledge, perception and acceptability of breastfeeding and bottle feeding among Saudi population.

Despite the enormous benefits of breastfeeding (BF), its prevalence is suboptimal, with exclusive BF ranging between 7.3 % and 51% in the Saudi community. The aim of this study was to assess the Saudi community's knowledge regarding BF, exposure to BF promotional messages and formula milk advertisements and acceptability of BF in public places. It was a cross-sectional study that included Saudis aged 20-55 years old between December 2019 and June 2020. It utilised a self-administered questionnaire, which asked about background information, knowledge of BF, exposure to BF-promoting messages and exposure to formula milk advertisements and acceptability of BF versus bottle feeding in public. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS v. 22). For the analysis, a p-value <0.05 was considered significant. The sample included for analysis was 914. The mean age of participants was 33.8 ± 9 years. The majority of participants were female 823 (90%); males 87 (10%). The vast majority (94%) agreed that breast milk is more beneficial than formula milk. Nearly two-thirds (61%) were continuously exposed to messages advertising formula feeding, compared to only 35% who were exposed to messages promoting BF. The study found that 67.2% accept BF in public places. Among male participants, only 49% accepted BF in public places compared to 79% of female participants who accepted it; p-value <0.001. Acceptability of BF in public places was significantly higher among participants who had family members who breastfed (68%), compared to those who did not (50%), (p-value 0.01).

Study on acute respiratory infection in children aged 1 year to 5 years-A hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are the single greatest cause of death among children throughout the world. They are responsible every year for the deaths of 4.3 million children under 5 years of age worldwide. Community- or hospital-based surveys for finding out the prevalence and various factors associated with ARI are very few, especially in urban areas. Also, surveys to study the use of vaccines in preventing ARIs are scarce. Hence, we studied ARI in children aged 1 year to 5 years in a tertiary care hospital in Kerala. The aim was to determine the frequency of ARIs in the last 1 year in children aged 1 year to 5 years, attending the immunization clinic at Lourdes Hospital, Kochi, and assess the selected epidemiological, socio-demographic, nutritional and immunization factors associated with ARIs in the study group. Children attending the immunization clinic at a tertiary care hospital, Kochi, in the age group of 1 year to 5 years were selected. A brief introduction was given to the mother/caregiver of the child regarding the purpose of the study and was asked to fill out the questionnaire. Informed consent was taken. For the study, ARI is defined as the presence of one or more of the following: cough, running nose, blocked nose, sore throat, difficulty breathing, or ear problems; with or without fever. Results were analyzed. Mother was the caregiver in 67% of the cases. When the caregiver was the mother, ARI is found to be less. Among those mothers who had no formal education, 100% of their children got ARI. Children whose caregivers were 30 years and older had lesser ARI. The proportion of children with ARIs was more with a history of respiratory infection among family members (parents/siblings) compared to those with no such history. The occurrence of ARI was more frequent in rural compared to urban areas. There is a significant proportion of ARI in non-exclusively breastfed infants, bottle feeding, and early initiation of complementary feeding. Children with a history of exposure to cigarette smoke had an increased occurrence of ARI. Similar results followed for exposure to biomass fuel and exposure to cold and rain. Children who were not immunized to vaccines-pneumococcal, Hib, measles, vitamin A, showed a higher occurrence of ARI compared to immunization. The studies regarding factors influencing ARI are relatively rare in an urban setting, thus this calls for more studies in urban areas. Health education can change the healthcare-seeking behavior and attitude of parents for preventing ARI-related deaths. Family physicians can play a significant role by educating caregivers of children and giving timely services. Promoting and ensuring exclusive breastfeeding practices, timely weaning after 6 months, and avoidance of bottle feeds can dramatically decrease the episodes of ARI.

Modernisation Factors of Infant Mortality Transition in Late Imperial Perm Province

This article studies urban infant mortality in the post-reform period of Perm Province. The work reconstructs the dynamics of infant mortality in cities and villages of the Middle Urals, highlighting the patterns of individual cities and identified factors of evolution. It is based on published state and zemstvo statistics, archival documents from medical institutions and public organisations, as well as Orthodox Church parish records from Ekaterinburg. Methodologically, the work relies on general demographic indices, descriptive statistics techniques, seasonality coefficients, and dynamic series analysis. During the first half of the nineteenth century, the mining Urals had extremely high birth and death rates and the highest infant mortality rate in European Russia. The Great Reforms launched the demographic transition in the region, resulting, among other things, in the Empire’s most significant infant mortality decline in the early twentieth century. The earliest and fastest infant mortality decline took place in cities. Small towns had slightly better rates than rural areas, while Perm and especially Ekaterinburg had significant reductions. The main reasons behind the changes in infant mortality were economic employment diversification, the weakening of ethno-religious traditions, and the creation of medical infrastructure. In daily life, these factors manifested in the smoothing of demographic seasonality, increased period between birth and baptism, the introduction of artificial nourishment with the help of glass feeding bottles and rubber comforters, and moving childbirths and infant care to hospitals. Ekaterinburg, the economic capital of the region, was the place where these factors had the best effect.

Bisphenol A exposure and symptoms of anxiety and depression among women of reproductive age

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical compound used in multiple areas, including the manufacture of food packaging and containers. Dietary exposure accounts for &gt;90% of total exposure. It is considered an endocrine disruptor, as it is suspected to adversely affect fetal development during intrauterine life and contribute to the development of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease and mental health in adulthood. European law (Regulation (UE) 321/2011) banned BPA from polycarbonate infant feeding bottles, but it remains authorized for all other products with a tolerable daily intake of 4 μg/kg body weight/day (EFSA2015). We conducted a cross-sectional study of 56 women aged 18-40y to investigate the association between BPA exposure and the presence of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Subjects, recruited at ICANS, University of Milan, completed the STAI2 and QD questionnaires to investigate anxiety and depressive symptoms, respectively. A blood sample was taken to determine exposure to total and unconjugated-BPA (metabolically active form). After adjustment for age, BMI, smoking and physical activity, total BPA (log-transform for linearity) was not associated with anxiety and depression, whereas unconjugated-BPA (transformed in square root for linearity) was significant associated with depression score (β(BPA) = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.21; p=0.042). Our data suggest that BPA exposure is associated with depressive symptoms in women in reproductive age.

Knowledge about Negative Effects of Bottle Feeding on Babies’ Dental Tissues Amongst Mothers

Background: Bottle feeding affects the hard tissues of babies in a negative manner. Overall health of infants is also affected by regular bottle feeding. It also results in development of certain harmful habits and increasing use of pacifiers when bottle feeding exceeds 0-6 months. Many detrimental changes occur in the dental tissues of infants due to bottle feeding. Infant feeding practices are an important factor influencing malocclusion in deciduous dentition, which can have long-lasting negative outcomes on oral health-related quality of life. Objective: To assess the awareness in mothers regarding bottle feeding and its adverse dental effects in babies and to find out the general feeding pattern among mothers. Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional study. Study Duration: Study was conducted on feeding mothers in Lahore during a period from November 2020 to February 2021. Methodology: In this study 350 mothers participated. The inclusion criteria consisted of women having at least 1 baby less than 2 years of age. Questionnaire was printed in English and Urdu and filled by mothers. Prior to the actual data collection process at non-sampled Kebeles, the questionnaire was pre-tested on 5% of the sample size, and adjustments were made as necessary. The short questionnaire was collected on same day. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23 (IBM SPSS Statistics, version 23, USA). Chi square test was used to compare frequencies amongst groups. A p value of &lt;0.05 was set as the level for statistical significance. Results: The results showed that age distribution of mothers included in this study were between 20 to 50 years with 20 to 29 being highest 186 (53.3%). Two hundred and eleven (60.3%) were housewife and one hundred and thirty-nine (39.8%) were working women. Feeding pattern showed that 41% women were breastfeeding their child, 9% were bottle feeding and 50% were using both methods of feeding. Practical implication: In order to identify issues and find solutions to prevent illness and stunted growth, it is important to regularly monitor breastfeeding patterns and feeding practises in mothers. That’s why current study was planned to assess the awareness in mothers regarding bottle feeding and its adverse dental effects in babies and to find out the general feeding pattern among mothers. Conclusion: It is concluded that bottle feeding is more common among women, which is having deleterious effects on both dental and skeletal tissues of babies. Knowledge among mothers related to dental problems as an implication of bottle feeding is generally quite lacking. There needs to be more educational efforts made in order to prevent the dental problems in infants. Keywords: Infant feeding, Breast feeding, bottle feeding, dental, altered occlusion, deciduous dentition, feeding pattern, nutritional demand, tooth decay, discoloration

Working against forgetting – Infants’ feeding and weight gain at the time of Juhan Aul

A hundred and twenty-five years ago, European infants grew differently from modern infants. We show weight gains of 20 healthy children weighed longitudinally from birth to age 1 year published by Camerer in 1882. The data illustrate the prevalent historic concepts of infant nutrition practiced by German civil servants, lawyers, merchants, university professors, physicians, foresters and farmers. Breastfeeding by the mother was not truly appreciated in those days; children were often breastfed by wet nurses or received bottled milk of various composition. Bottle feeding mainly consisted of diluted cow’s milk with some added carbohydrates without evidence that appropriate amounts of oil, butter or other fatty components had been added. French children from 1914 showed similar weight gain patterns suggesting similar feeding practices. The historical data suggest that energy deficient infant formula had regularly been fed in the late 19th and the early 20th century Europe regardless of wealth and social class. The data question current concerns that temporarily feeding energy deficient infant formula may warrant serious anxieties regarding long-term cognitive, social and emotional behavioral development.

Mothers’ Feeding Practice and Nutritional Status of Infants in Selected Primary Health Care Center of Paikoro Local Government Area, Niger State, Nigeria

Background: Ensuring good health, growth and development of children requires adequate nutrition during infancy and early childhood. Therefore, optimal feeding during the first few years of life provides opportunity for prevention of growth faltering and under-nutrition. Hence, improvement of infant feeding practices for children less than five years should be a high priority globally. Objectives: The objective of this study is to assess the feeding practices of mothers and the nutritional status of infants and young children in some selected Primary Health Care (PHCs) in Paikoro LGA of Niger state, Nigeria Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in some selected Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in Paikoro area of Niger state and a total of 200 mother/child pair were selected using simple random sampling method. Data was collected from mothers using a pre- tested structured questionnaire. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) (Version 20.0). Tests were statistically significant at p ≤ 0.05. Results: Majority (of the respondents feed colostrums to their babies. The prevalence of initiation of breastfeeding (78.5%), colostrum consumption (97.5%) and timely introduction of complementary feeding (74.5%) practices were high. The results further revealed 34.0% of the respondents breastfeed on demand while 29.5% were using feeding bottles. Conclusion: The study shows that a very high percentage of the mothers feed colostrums to their children but none breastfed their children to 24 months of age.

Oral health-related knowledge, practice and their associated factors among mothers in a rural municipality of Eastern Nepal

Introduction: Oral Health status in children has been shown to be related with oral health patterns learned through the childhood. The children acquire health behaviors from their mothers. Objective: This study aims to assess the oral health related knowledge and practice among mothers in a rural municipality of Eastern Nepal and explore the factors associated with these outcomes. Methods: A randomly selected 268 women either pregnant or having children of less than 6 years of age were interviewed in April- June, 2019 to assess their knowledge and practice regarding oral health. Data was entered using Epidata 3.1. Response on knowledge and practice were presented as frequency and proportion and compared with different maternal variables using inferential statistics. Results: Mean age of the participating women was 25.9 years (SD 5.3). Three participants were pregnant (primigravida). Majority (96.7%) of respondents reported brushing their teeth at least once a day. Only 9.3% reported using fluoridated toothpaste for their children. Similarly, majority (69.4%) of participants had knowledge about wiping baby’s gums after breastfeeding or after letting child bottle feed. Literacy was found to significantly influence the participants’ brushing frequency, brushing technique, practice of brushing or wiping their child’s teeth and gums. Conclusions: Oral health related knowledge among mothers and their practice were found to be unsatisfactory across several domains. Further, these outcomes were found to be influenced by several maternal characteristics. Assessing knowledge-practice gap on oral health resulting from maternal characteristics can provide a basis for providing training to women on necessary parenting skills.