Assessment of infant and young child feeding practices and nutritional status of 0 to 2 years children

Background: Appropriate infant and young child feeding practices are essential for optimal growth, cognitive development and overall wellbeing in early vulnerable years of life. (WHO) World Health Organization recommends exclusive breast feeding up to six months, addition of complementary feeds after completion of six months onwards and continued breast feeding till two years of life. Apart from exclusive breast feeding initially, time of introduction, content and consistency of complementary feeds are critical for early nutrition. Inadequate and inappropriate (IYCF) practices lead to malnutrition, followed by growth retardation and fatal outcomes. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at immunization OPD at Aundh civil hospital ,a tertiary care centre in Pune over a period of one month of September.63 mother with children of 0 to 2 years dyads were included in study .A pretested ,validated questionnaire adapted from BPNI IYCF questionnaire was used. Assessment of IYCF practices and nutritional status of children (length, weight and MUAC) was done. ICFI score (Infant Child Feeding Index) was used as a single indicator for complementary feeding practices in 6 to 24 months children. Length, weight were compared with Z score charts of WHO. Result: 31 male and 32 participants of age 0 to 24 months were included in study.23 participants were of 0 to 6 months age and 40 participants in 6 to 24 months age group. Children delivered by caesarean were 26(41.3%).Children delivered in government setup were 26(41.3%). Prelacteal feed was given in 31(49.2%) of which honey was given in 5(7.9%) and formula milk was given in 23(36.9%) newborns .Initiation of breastfeeding within one hour was done in 28(44.4%) participants. Exclusive breastfeeding was done in 29 (44.4%) participants. Complementary food introduced at completion of 6 months in 34(85%) participants. Total number of bottle fed children was 3(4.8%). (IFCI) infant child feeding score of six was seen in 45% children. Assessment of children in study group had showed stunting in 6(9.5%) participants and wasting was seen in 7(11.11%) children.6 (9.5%) were underweight and moderate acute malnutrition was seen in 7(11.11%) children. Place of birth was statistically significant (p value <0.001) with respect to type of delivery, feed, early initiation of breast feeding and exclusive breastfeeding. An odd of early initiation of breastfeeding was 15 times greater in government hospital, and that of exclusive breastfeeding was 7 times greater in government hospital. Conclusion: IYCF practices were found to be good in children delivered in government setup as compared to private setup. ICFI score did not found statistically significant with nutritional status of children in study group. Stunting was seen in 6(9.5%) children. Moderate acute malnutrition was seen in 7(11.11%) and 6(9.5%) were underweight and wasting was seen in 7(11.11%) children.