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Complementary feeding of children 6‐23 months of age in Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Uttar Pradesh (UP) states in India
Author(s) -
Dreyfuss Michele L,
Iannotti Lora L,
Singh Veena,
Chaudhery Deepika N,
Panwar Dharmendra S,
Ahmed Saifuddin,
Baqui Abdullah,
Caulfield Laura E
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a618-b
Subject(s) - breastfeeding , medicine , uttar pradesh , pediatrics , breast feeding , socioeconomics , sociology
Child feeding practices were assessed in two socio‐economically distinct states as part of an evaluation of CARE India’s Integrated Nutrition and Health Program. In January 2004, 9678 mothers with children 0–23 months (AP: n=4845, UP: n=4833) participated in a baseline cross‐sectional survey. Nearly all children were ever breastfed, and among children 6–23 months, only 8% were not breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding in children 0–5 months was 82% in AP and 63% in UP. We defined timely complementary feeding as the % of breastfed children receiving cereals (including rice, bread, porridge, and other cereals) in the previous 24 hours: among children 6–8 months, 46% in AP and 10% in UP; among those 9–11 months, 56% in AP and 31% in UP; and among those 12–23 months, 63% in AP and 64% in UP. Significant differences (p<0.05) in timely complementary feeding among children 6–11 months in AP were found by maternal education (yrs), by standard of living index (low, medium, high), and by feeding caregiver (child alone, mother, or older sibling/others), and in both states, by child eating from a separate plate or sharing. Among children 6–23 months, only 8% in AP and 21% in UP had received three or more food groups in the previous 24 hours. Less than 25% of children in AP and less than 3% in UP received at least one‐half the recommended age‐specific quantity of solids. We conclude that nutrition programs in India should investigate barriers to introducing and giving solids to children and strive to improve this practice. Funding provided by the United States Agency for International Development.