Infant growth in relation to feeding practices in low income families.

ABSTRACT

A survey of feeding practices and measurements of weight, length and chest circumference of infants upto the age of 12 months and belonging to low income families of some selected villages at Pantnagar was carried out during 1987-88. The study revealed that as many as 83% of infants were exclusively breast fed up to the age of 6 months. In addition to being breast fed, 77% of infants between 9 and 12 months were also receiving semi-solids. Very small quantities of cereals, pulses, biscuits and fruits were reported to be the supplementary foods fed to infants. Animal milk diluted to varying degrees was fed as a supplement by some mothers and as a substitute by a few. Growth patterns of various feed types in terms of the anthropometric measurements were not found significantly different in different feeding practices. With reference to International standards (NCHS), it was seen that weight of only 25% of male and 55% of female infants fell in the normal range at the age of 3 months and this percentage declined from 3rd month to 12th month of age. Though the percentage falling in normal range was higher for length, the pattern of decline with the advancement in age was similar. This unsatisfactory growth performance of even those who received other foods along with breast milk is indicative of the fact that the quantity/quality of supplementary foods (along with other factors) were not sufficient to promote normal growth.