Complementary feeding practices and their determinants among children 6-23 months of age in an outpatient hospital setting in Central India: A cross-sectional study

Objective: To study and profile complementary feeding practices and their determinants among children 6-23 months of age in an outpatient hospital setting in Central India: A cross-sectional study. Method: Total 464 Children, 6-23 months of age, visiting Well baby clinic and Immunization center at AIIMS Bhopal during February 2015 to June 2016, where parents had given consent for participation in the study were included. Children with congenital malformations affecting feeding, cerebral palsy, known chronic systemic diseases, were excluded. Result: Breastfeeding was initiated within 1 hour in 59.5%. Complementary feeds were given in 84% of children 6-8 month of age. Minimal dietary diversity as determined by WHO was received by 57% of children while minimal meal frequency was present in 86%. Minimal acceptable diet was received by 58% of children. Breastfeeding was continued in 86% children at 1 year of age and 41% children at 2 years of age. Bottle feeding was present in 26% of children. Multivariate regression analysis was done to correlate minimum acceptable diet and various variables affecting the feeding habits. Higher maternal education (adjusted OR: 4.03; 95% CI: 2.35-6.89) and income group (adjusted OR: 2.03; 95% CI: 1.11-3.72) were found to be significant. Joint families had better feeding practices when compared to nuclear families (adjusted OR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.12-2.64). Homemaker mothers were able to feed their children in more appropriate way (adjusted OR: 3.33; 95% CI: 1.17-6.62). Conclusion: Well-educated homemaker mother, higher income group, and joint families help in establishing better complementary feeding habits in children less than 2 years. An understanding of the prevalent practices will be helpful in identification of areas that need to be focused upon and reemphasized during counseling the caregivers of the young children to improve their nutritional status, which will also reduce the burden of disease at primary care.