A study of correlation of different grades of malnutrition with feeding practices during 1st 6 months of life

Abstract

Background: Childhood under nutrition is a critical public health and development challenge in many developing countries including India. Nearly half of all deaths in children under-5 age group are attributable to under-nutrition. One of the key reasons for under-nutrition in early life is the faulty and sub-optimal infant and young child feeding practices.Methods: 295 children under the age of 5 years residing in rural areas of Udaipur were studied. Feeding pattern and various demographic factors were taken into account, considering age at which breastfeeding was initiated, practice of exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months, colostrum given or not, any pre-lacteal feed given or not. Assessment of anthropometric measurements was done and children were categorized as per classification of malnutrition by the WHO.Results: Total of 295 children were studied, out of which 59% (174) children were malnourished. 23.2% of SAM children received exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months compared to 52.1% of control group, which was statistically significant. Difference between severely malnourished and control group children who received pre-lacteal feed was also significant. Only 21% of severely malnourished children were started with breastfeeding within 1st hour of birth.Conclusions: Most of the children who were not given breastfeeding up to 6 months, offered pre-lacteal feed, deprived of colostrum at birth, not started complementary feeding at appropriate time were severely malnourished.

Management outcome and risk factor in children with severe acute malnutrition in <6 months of age and role of supplementary suckling technique in re-establishing breastfeeding

“…Furthermore, 65.33% cases of SAM were given pre-lacteal feeds. This was consistent with the findings of Diksha Sharma et al, (2017) [13] study in which only 46.3% of the control group and 71% of the severe malnutrition group received pre-lacteal feed which was statistically significant. The effect of pre-lacteal feeds can be appreciated by the findings of Lalit Kumar et al, (2018) [12] study in which out of the total infants who were given pre-lacteal feeds 47.4% were non-responders which was much higher than compared to the ones who were not given prelacteal feeds (18.2%).…”

“…The reason for not giving exclusive breastfeeding is mainly a lack of knowledge about its significance in the common population. A total of 29.33% cases of SAM received colostrum in our study, which is much low than compared of Diksha Sharma et al, (2017) [13] study in which 59% of SAM infants received colostrum. Similarly in Lalit Kumar et al, (2018) [12] study, infants who received colostrum were only 18.30% (13/68) non-responders as compared to 54.54% (19/47) in infants who were not given colostrum and were significant (p=0.003).…”

“…In the present study, only 13.33% of SAM cases were given exclusive breastfeeding. Sharma et al (2017) [13] study also reported that only 23.2% of the severely malnourished children were given exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months. Similarly, Kavita Choudhary et al [7] study also found a strong association between exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months with malnutrition.…”

Prognostic factors affecting outcome of hospitalised infants 1-6 months with severe acute malnutrition in North India

“…17 As shown in previous studies the relationship of occurrence of severe acute malnutrition was strongly associated with introduction of pre-lacteal feed. 18,19 In present study out of 115 infants 38 (33.04%) were given pre-lacteal feed, out of which, on outcome 18 (14.78%) still remain in SAM showing statistical significance. With-holding colostrum is a risk factors for underweight at six months of age as in our study, infants that fed colostrum had better nutritional status than those who didn't which is consistent with previous studies.…”