The First 1000 Days Matter: Exploring Breastfeeding, Complementary Feeding, and Nutritional Outcomes among Young Children

Background: Children who don't get timely, sufficient, and appropriate complementary feedings are at risk of undernutrition, even with optimal breastfeeding. Undernutrition among children under five is a significant public health issue in India. Aim & Objective: To evaluate breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices among mothers of children aged 6 to 23 months and to examine their association with the nutritional status of these children. Settings and Design: Cross sectional study was conducted among 100 children aged 6 to 23 months in the Rural Health Training Centre’s rural field practice division of Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College in Pune. Methods and Material: Mothers were interviewed using semi structured questionnaire of breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices and anthropometric measurement of child was taken using calibrated infantometer and Salter weighing scale. Statistical analysis used: Continuous variables were presented as means, standard deviation (SD) & median. Categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages. The chi-square test were used to determine the independence of attributes. Results: Out of 100 children studied 56% had given prelacteal feed, 44.90% had practiced exclusive breast feeding, 32% children were bottle fed, 54% children received complementary feeding at appropriate age, 62% children met adequate minimum meal frequency, only 23% children met minimum acceptable diet. Association between underweight and stunting with the non-initiation of complementary food at appropriate age was statistically significant. Conclusions: The majority of the children in this research weren't exclusively breastfed, only 54% of infants received complementary feeding at the recommended age.