PC2030: Study of Feeding Practices and Vaccination Status Effect on Growth and Illness in Children of 6months to 2years

Background: Feeding practices and vaccination status are the major determinants of a child’s growth and nutritional well-being.
Objective is to identify the factors affecting the growth pattern and causing illnesses in children less than 2 years based on their feeding and vaccination practices.

Methods: This cross sectional observational study was conducted at the pediatrics outpatient department attached to a tertiary care hospital over a period of three months. All written questionnaires were administered to the mother of the child aged 6 months to 2 years.

Results: A total of 351 eligible mothers participated in the study. All the 351(100%) mothers reported having put their infants to the breast. The majority of them (59.8%) (Table 1) reported to have started breastfeeding within the first hour after delivery. There was a significantly higher proportion of children who were exclusively breastfed up to six months (61.8%) (Table 1). The study showed that mothers were generally aware of the concept of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and most of them had a positive perception about it. The main barrier to practicing EBF was that the caregiver feared that mothers may not have adequate breast milk and would need to introduce other feeds early.
Out of a total of 351 children, 175 (49.8%) (Table 1) had adequate complementary feeding. Complementary feeding was started by the mothers or caregivers either based on information received from a clinician or based on some signs like crying a lot, an increase in appetite and wanting to breastfeed more often than usual. The most commonly introduced complementary food at six months was dal water (lentils) and biscuits. Fruits commonly bananas were mentioned as being common complementary foods that were given.
Severe malnutrition, not starting breastfeeding within 1st hour of birth and non-completion of vaccination were associated with increased diarrhea episodes.
The Chi square test of significance showed statistically significant correlation with p value < 0.05 between those children with partially or non- vaccinated states, with inadequate complementary feeding and diarrhea (Table 2). Also the test showed highly significant p values < 0.005 for correlation between children who were not exclusively breast fed till 6 months and had illnesses and severe malnutrition and those were non vaccinated/received inadequate malnutrition and had severe malnutrition (Table 3).

Conclusion: This study concluded that children who were not exclusively breast fed, had inadequate complementary feeding and not vaccinated had higher incidence of illness and malnutrition when compared with children with proper feeding practices and complete vaccination status. Mothers need to be educated about EBF, complementary feeding and need for complete immunization.
The global strategy on infant and child feeding adopted by World Health Assembly in 2002 is most appropriate in our situation for adequate growth and development of young children.