Feeding practices of caregivers and malnutrition among 1 - 3 year old children in North India, Chandigarh.

Abstract

Malnutrition is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children. Different feeding practices have an influence on the nutritional health of the child. To ascertain the feeding practices of caregivers of children 1 to 3 years of age in North India, Chandigarh and to assess the nutritional status among children with different feeding practices by caregivers. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 caregivers and their children residing in urban (60%), slum (30%) and rural (10%) using multistage cluster random sampling. Feeding practices were assessed using child feeding questionnaire. Mean scores and difference in means were calculated for feeding domains. Proportions and differences in proportions were calculated for malnutrition. Indices and Z scores were calculated. Spearman correlation coefficient was calculated to check the correlation between feeding styles and malnutrition. Among the seven feeding domains, 'perceived responsibility' of child feeding (4.8 ± 0.03), <i>P</i> = 0.639 and 'concern about child weight' (4.4 ± 0.04), <i>P</i> = 0.003 were predominant among the caregivers. Mean scores for 'concern about child weight' (<i>P</i> = 0.003), 'pressure to eat' (<i>P</i> < 0.05) and 'monitoring' (<i>P</i> < 0.05) feeding domains were significantly higher in urban (4.6, 3.7, 3.7) as compared with slum (4.3, 3.6, 3.4) and rural areas (4.4, 3.6, 3.5), respectively. About 42.5% children were underweight, 57% stunted and 24% wasted. Feeding domain 'monitoring' had a weak correlation (≤0.39) with z scores for malnutrition (<i>P</i> = 0.277) and stunting (<i>P</i> = 0.229). Other feeding domains had very weak (≤0.19) or no correlation (ρ = 0) with malnutrition. Feeding practices of caregivers are related with malnutrition, stunting and wasting among children.