Infant feeding practices among mothers in rural Rajamahendravaram, Andhra Pradesh

Authors

  • Suresh Babu Uppiretla Department of Community Medicine, GSL Medical College, Andhra Pradesh, India
  • Sushant Kumar Mishra Department of Community Medicine, GSL Medical College, Andhra Pradesh, India
  • Hari Kumar Rachakulla Division of Community Studies, National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR), Hyderabad, Telangana, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20191830

Keywords:

Infant feeding practices, Rural areas

Abstract

Background: Maternal and child under nutrition remain extensive in low and middle-income population groups. Safe delivery practices and adequate nutrition during infancy is essential to ensure health, growth, and development of a child. Early under nutrition has a long-lasting effect on physical and cognitive growth. So it is essential to assess and promote the healthy child feeding & caring practices in the vulnerable groups.

Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted to enrol 160 mothers of infants by probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling procedure for 5 months in the field practicing areas of GSL Medical College. Primary data was collected through a validated questionnaire with variables of socio-demography, intra-natal, and infant feeding practices. Secondary data was obtained from MCP cards. The analysis was done using SPSS trial version 18, results were expressed as percentages and proportions and Chi-square test was used to assess the association.

Results: Majorities (90%) of the deliveries are institutional and the proportion of low birth weight was found to be 12.5%. Breastfeeding was initiated within 1st hour after delivery among 75.6% infants and 79.1% of the infants of 6-11m were reportedly exclusively breast fed. Working status and literacy status of mother are significantly associated with infant feeding practices.

Conclusions: In spite of many programmes targeted for promoting safe intra natal and infant feeding practices this study finds a relatively high proportion of faulty practices prevalent in rural areas.

Author Biographies

Suresh Babu Uppiretla, Department of Community Medicine, GSL Medical College, Andhra Pradesh, India

Tutor,  

Department of community medicine 

Gsl medical college 

Sushant Kumar Mishra, Department of Community Medicine, GSL Medical College, Andhra Pradesh, India

Professor 7 Head,  

Department of community medicine 

Gsl medical college

Hari Kumar Rachakulla, Division of Community Studies, National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR), Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Scientist F,

Division of Community Studies,
National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR),
J-mai Osmania, Hyderabad

References

Black RE, Allen LH, Bhutta ZA, Caulfield LE. Onis Md, Ezzati M, et al. Maternal and child undernutrition: global and regional exposures and health consequences. Lancet. 2008;371(9608):243–60.

Central Statistical Agency [Ethiopia], ICFInternational. Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey 2011. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Calverton, Maryland, USA: Central Statistical Agency and ICF International; 2012.

Ezzati M, Lopez AD, Rodgers A, VanderHoorn S, Murray CJ. Selected major risk factors and global andregional burden of disease. Lancet. 2002;360:1347–60.

Victora CG, Adair L, Fall C, Hallal PC, Martorell R, Richter L, et al. Maternal and child undernutrition: consequences for adult health and human capital. Lancet. 2008;371(9609):340–57.

UNICEF. Programming guide,infant and young child feeding,nutrition section, programmes, UNICEF. New York. 2012.

World Bank. 2006. Repositioning nutrition as central to development : a strategy for large-scale action - overview. Directions in development. Washington, DC: World Bank. Available at: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/ 185651468175733998/Repositioning-nutrition-as-central-to-development-astrategy-for-large-scale-action-overview. Accessed on 3 February 2019.

WHO and UNICEF. Global strategy for infant and young child feeding. Geneva: World health organization; 2003.

WHO. Infant and young child feeding.model chapter for textbook for medical students and allied health proffesions France: 2009.

Caetano MC, Ortiz TT, da Silva SG, de Souza FI, Sarni RO. Complementary feeding: inappropriate practices in infants. J Pediatr. 2010;86(3):196–201.

Tagbo B, Ughasoro M. Complementary feeding pattern of Infants attaining the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku, Ozalla. Enugu Nigerian J Peadiatr. 2009;36(3&4):51–9.

Safari JG, Kimambo SC, Lwelamira JE. Feeding practice and nutritional status in Morongo Municipality, Tanzania. Tanzania J Health Res. 2013;15(3):3–7.

Muhimbula HS, Issa-Zacharia A. Persistant child malnutrition in Tanzania: Risks associated with traditional complmentary food. Afr J Food Sci. 2010;4(11):679–92.

Garje RR, Thitame SK, Somasundaram KV, Gautam L, Gite MS. Infant feeding beliefs and practices among tribal mothers in Nashik district, Maharashtra. Int J Med Sci Public Health. 2016;5:2203-8

Gupta A, Dadhich JP, Faridi MMA. Breast feeding and complementary feeding as a public health intervention for child survival in India. Ind J Pediatr. 2010;7(4):412-7.

Indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding practices: of a consensus meeting held 6-8 November 2007 in Washington DC, USA. WHO, 2008. Available from: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/ publications/2008/9789241596664_eng.pdf. Accessed on 22 August 2015.

Iskandar MB, Costello C, Nasution Y. Initiation and duration of breast feeding in Indonasia. Asia Pac Popul J. 1990;5:89-112.

National Family Health Survey(NFHS-4) India, 2015-16. Mumbai: Available at: http://www. rchiips.org/nfhs. Accessed on 3 February 2019.

WHO. Indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding practices practices part 3: country profiles. 2010.

National family health survey (NFHS-4) (2015-16) India report International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) Mumbai. Available at: http://rchiips.org/NFHS/NFHS-4Reports/ India.pdf. Accessed on 3 February 2019.

Cacodkar J, Joglekar S, Dubhashi A. Breast feeding and infant feeding practices among rural mothers in Goa. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2016;3:184-9.

Dakshayani B, Gangadhar MR. Breast feeding practices among the Hakkipikkis: A tribal population of Mysore District, Karnataka. Ethno-Med. 2008;2(2):127-9.

22. UNICEF, Ten steps to promote successful breast feeding, Mother and Child Health Division, Geneva: World Health Organization; 1989.WHO.

23. Alwala RR, Dudala SR, Bolla CR, Patki MB, Kumar BPR. Infant feeding practices of a tribal community in a mandal of Khammam district, Telangana. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2018;5:5077-81.

24. Senarath U, Agho KE, Akram DE, Godakandage SS, Hazir T, Jayawickrama H, et al. Comparisons of complementary feeding indicators and associated factors in children aged 6-23 months across five south Asian countries. Matern Child Nutr. 2012;8:89–106.

Hasnain S, Majrooh MA, Anjum R. Knowledge and practices of mothers for complementary feeding in babies visiting pediatrics outpatient department of Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. Biomedica. 2013;29:221–30.

Chapagain RH. Factors affecting complementary feeding practices of Nepali mothers for 6 months to 24 months children. J Nepal Health Res Counc. 2013;11(24):205–7.

Tessema M, Belachew T, Ersino G. Feeding patterns and stunting during early childhood in rural communities of Sidama, South Ethiopia. Pan Afr Med J. 2013:14(75).

Downloads

Published

2019-04-27

How to Cite

Uppiretla, S. B., Mishra, S. K., & Rachakulla, H. K. (2019). Infant feeding practices among mothers in rural Rajamahendravaram, Andhra Pradesh. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 6(5), 2121–2126. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20191830

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles