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Research Paper | Pediatrics | India | Volume 12 Issue 2, February 2023

Factors Influencing Complementary Feeding in Children Aged 6 Months to 24 Months - A Cross Sectional Study

Aravinth S | Dheepane K | Thumjaa A ^[2] | M Mathivanan

Abstract: Background: India is facing malnutrition for a long time, which threatens children survival, growth, and development. Complementary - feeding is a subject of little research. This study was conducted to assess the factors influencing complementary feeding in children between 6months and 24months age. Material &Method: Across - sectional study was conducted among children of age 6 months to 24 months visiting the Paediatric Outpatient department. After obtaining consent, 380 children fulfilling Inclusion - criteria were enrolled. Validated Questionnaire was filled by interviewing. Data - analysis is done by entering them in Microsoft excel and SPSS version22. Result: Three hundred and eighty children?s mothers were interviewed. Of these210 (55.3%) male and 170 (44.7%) female. The total number of babies with known birth weight was 380. The Low - birth - weight was 58 (15.2%) and Normal - birth - weight was 322 (84.3%). The Complementary - feed Initiation of <6months was 47 (12.4%) and at 6months was 207 (54.5%) and >6months was 126 (33.2%). The Frequency of Complementary - Feeding of ?3 was 204 (53.7%) and >3 was 176 (46.3%). In 59.70% family pot feeding was the most common Complementary - feed was given. Education of mothers influences the birth weight which was significant P - value 0.037 (p<0.05). Mother?s Education, Occupational status, Birth interval and Socioeconomic - class influences the frequency of complementary - feeding with P - value 0.030 (p<0.05), 0.010 (p<0.05), 0.036 (p<0.05) and 0.014 (p<0.05) respectively. Occupational status of mothers influences frequency of complementary - feeding with p - value0.010 (p<0.05). Birth - interval affects the frequency of complementary - feeding with p - value0.036 (p<0.05). Socioeconomic - class is influencing the time at which complementary - feeding is initiated with p - value0.0001 (p<0.05). Conclusion: There was association of appropriate feeding practices with mother?s education and socio - economic status. The findings highlight the importance of the mother's education, profession and young child feeding. This knowledge can be utilized to improve the infant and young child feeding practices and bring down the child morbidity and mortality in the country.

Keywords: Complementary, feeding, Socioeconomic status, Education, Birth, interval

Edition: Volume 12 Issue 2, February 2023,

Pages: 484 - 488

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