Appropriate feeding practices are important during infancy for good health, growth and development of infants and children. WHO revised its earlier recommendation of Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) of infants from 4 to 6 months of age to EBF until about 6 months of age, with the addition of complementary foods thereafter. This recommendation confirms that breast milk alone is sufficient to meet infants’ nutritional requirements for the first 6 months of life. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of various feeding practices on the Nutritional status of infants 0 - 12-month-old in the Kumba 1 Sub-Division. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2019 to August 2020. A total of 341 nursing mothers and their infants 0 - 12 months of age were recruited. Socio-demographic factors and the different feeding habits of the children were assessed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric measurements. The overall proportion of infants who exclusively breastfed for 6 months was 69.2% and those who were mix-fed were 30.8% in the study area. The overall prevalence of malnutrition in the population was 61.0%. Among the malnourished children, 53.1% were underweight, 19.6% were wasted and 10.0% were stunted. Though not significant, the prevalence of wasting (21.0%) and underweight (58.3%) was higher among Mix-Fed (MF) children when compared to their EBF counterparts. Feeding practices affected the nutritional status of the infants. Underweight and wasting were observed among infants on Complementary Feeding (CF), although some exclusively breast-fed infants were stunted. Hence, nursing mothers should try as much as possible to practice EBF as recommended by WHO and can practice CF when the child is above six months.
References
[1]
Bai, Y.K., Middlestadt, S.E., Joanne Peng, C.Y. and Fly, A.D. (2009) Psychosocial Factors Underlying the Mother’s Decision to Continue Exclusive Breastfeeding for 6 Months: An Elicitation Study. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 22, 134-140. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-277X.2009.00950.x
[2]
Pérez-Escamilla, R., Tomori, C., Hernández-Cordero, S., Baker, P., Aluisio, J.D.B., Bégin, F., Chapman, D.J., Grummer-Strawn, L.M., McCoy, D., Purnima, M., Neves, P.A.R., Piwoz, E., Nigel, R., Cesar, G.V. and Richter, L. (2023) Breastfeeding: Crucially Important, But Increasingly Challenged in a Market-Driven World. The Lancet, 401, 472-485. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01932-8
[3]
WHO (2008) WHO Child Growth Standards: Training Course on Child Growth Assessment. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241595070
[4]
American Academy of Pediatrics (2005) Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. Pediatrics, 115, 496-506. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2004-2491
[5]
Shisana, J.R. and Lawrence, R.A. (2010) Toward Optimal Health: The Maternal Benefits of Breastfeeding. Journal of Women’s Health, 19, 1597-1602. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2010.2290
[6]
Arifeen, S., Black, R.E., Antelman, G., Baqui, A., Caulfield, L. and Becker, S. (2001) Exclusive Breastfeeding Reduces Acute Respiratory Infection and Diarrhea Deaths Among Infants in Dhaka Slums. Paediatrics, 108, e67. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.108.4.e67
[7]
WHO (2009) Infant and Young Child Feeding Model Chapter for Textbooks for Medical Students and Allied Health Professionals. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/4411
[8]
Aguayo, V.M., Nair, R., Badgaiyan, N. and Krishna, V. (2016) Determinants of Stunting and Poor Linear Growth in Children under 2 Years of Age in India: An In-Depth Analysis of Maharashtra’s Comprehensive Nutrition Survey. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 12, 121-140. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12259
[9]
Arun, G., Dadhich, J.P. and Shoba, S. (2013) How Can Global Rates of Exclusive Breastfeeding for the First 6 Months Be Enhanced? Childhood Obesity and Nutrition, 5, 33-40. https://doi.org/10.1177/1941406413480389
[10]
De Onis, M. and Branca, F. (2016) Childhood Stunting a Global Perspective. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 12, 12-26. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12231
[11]
Mya, K.S., Kyaw, A.T. and Tun, T. (2019) Feeding Practices and Nutritional Status of Children Age 6-23 Months in Myanmar: A Secondary Analysis of the 2015-16 Demographic and Health Survey. PLOS ONE, 14, e0209044. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0209044
[12]
Mugware, A., Motadi, S.A. and Mushaphi, L.F. (2022) Feeding Practices and Micronutrient Status of Children Aged 0-36 Months in Thulamela Municipality, Limpopo Province. Health SA Gesondheid, 27, a1973. https://doi.org/10.4102/hsag.v27i0.1973
[13]
Samuel, A., Osendarp, S.J.M., Feskens, E.J.M., Lelisa, A., Adish, A., Kebede, A. and Brouwer, I.D. (2022) Gender Differences in Nutritional Status and Determinants among Infants (6-11 M): A Cross-Sectional Study in Two Regions in Ethiopia. BMC Public Health, 22, Article No. 401. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12772-2
[14]
Zhou, H., Wang, X.L., Ye, F., Zeng, X.L. and Wang, Y. (2012) Relationship between Child Feeding Practices and Malnutrition in 7 Remote and Poor Counties, People’s Republic of China. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 21, 234-240.
[15]
Anoshirike, C.O., Nnabuihe, C.L., Ekeogu, K.C. and Asinobi, C.O. (2017) Factors Affecting Practices and Attitude of Nursing Mothers towards Exclusive Breastfeeding of Their Infants 0-12 Months in Ihioma Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State. Journal of Dietitians Association of Nigeria, 8, 162-169.
[16]
Asoba, G.N., Sumbele, I.U.N., Anchang-Kimbi, J.K., Metuge, S. and The, R.N. (2019) Influence of Infant Feeding Practices on the Occurrence of Malnutrition, Malaria, and Anaemia in Children under 5 Years in the Mount Cameroon Area: A Cross Sectional Study. PLOS ONE, 14, e0219386. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0219386
[17]
Enyi, E.M. (2019) Feeding Practices and Nutritional Status of Infants in Northwest Nigeria. Ph.D. Thesis, Walden University, Minneapolis.
[18]
Victora, C.G., Bahl, R., Barros, A.J., França, G.V., Horton, S., Krasevec, J., Murch, S., Sankar, M.J., Walker, N. and Rollins, N.C. (2016) Breastfeeding in the 21st Century: Epidemiology, Mechanisms, and Lifelong Effect. Lancet, 387, 475-490. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01024-7
