Research Article
Association of Breastfeeding Practices and Infant Feeding Attitude of the Mothers on the Nutritional Status of Children Aged 1 To 3 Years
Kamakshi R1*, Kundhala Ravi B2 , Hemamalini AJ3
1Department of Clinical Nutrition, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, India
2Department of Clinical Nutrition, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, India
3Department of Clinical Nutrition, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, India
*Corresponding author: Kamakshi R, M.Sc, Clinical Nutrition, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research,
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, Tel: 9442687684, 9789682256; Email: kamakshirajasabai@gmail.com
Article Information: Submission: 14/06/2019; Accepted: 15/07/2019; Published: 18/07/2019
Copyright:© 2019 Kamakshi R, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License,
which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Objectives: To associate the infant feeding attitude of the mothers on the nutritional status of the children based on breastfeeding practices
Methods: Primi mothers (120) with children aged one to three years were recruited in the cross sectional study and were divided into two groups based
on their breastfeeding practices as Group I Exclusive Breast Feeding and Group II Non- Exclusive breastfeeding. Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale was used
to access the feeding attitude of the mothers and the nutritional status of children was assessed by finding height for age, weight for age and weight for height.
Results: Nutritional status of children belonging to mothers who had breastfed exclusively for six months were found to be optimum for weight for height.
Majority of stunting (53%), underweight (45%) and wasting (48%) were observed in group II in comparison to group I. There was a statistical association
between breastfeeding practices of mothers and nutritional status whereas, infant feeding attitude of mothers had no impact on the nutritional status of the
children.
Conclusion: Delayed initiation of breastfeeding, deprivation of colostrum, giving prelacteals, not exclusively breastfeeding for six months and improper
weaning practices were few risk factors for inadequate nutritional status. The present study concludes that the nutritional status of children is influenced by
breastfeeding practices. Thus, there is a need to educate mothers about breastfeeding practices which will also help to achieve Sustainable Development
Goals, thereby increasing healthy children in our population.