Publication:

Impact of feeding practices, socioeconomic, and demographic profiles of under five children with severe acute malnutrition

Background The benefit of the early breastfeeding and timely imitation of complementary feeding as per locally availability of resource is well-documented. WHO recommend early initiation as soon as possible of the breastfeeding after birth as well as complementary feeding at 6 months of age. The objective was to know the feeding practices, socioeconomic and demographic profiles among the children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM).

Methods All under 5 children who fulfill the criteria of inclusion in the study. Various data were recorded and analyzed.

Results Only 22.36% and 31.57% of children received breastfeeding within 1 h and 1-4 h of birth, but exclusive breastfeeding till 6 months of age were found in 51.5% of children with SAM. About 42.1% of children had received complementary feeding between 6 months and 1 years of age and majority after 1 year of age, but no on were started on complementary feed before 6 months of age. Socio-economic, literacy, parity and demographic profiles had direct impacts that lead to malnutrition.

Conclusions The study has shown the existence of the under 5 children with SAM in nuclear and urban areas also.