BackgroundInfant and child feeding index (ICFI) an age-specific index, can be used to assess child feeding practices. We used the ICFI to assess feeding practices for urban slum children and the association between ICFI and child nutritional status.Methods446 children aged 6 to 24 months from urban slums of Mumbai, India were studied. We used the 24-hour diet recall to study dietary diversity and a food frequency questionnaire for consumption of food groups during the preceding week. ICFI was computed using five components, namely, breastfeeding, use of bottle, dietary diversity score (DDS), food group frequency score (FGFS) and feeding frequency scores (FFS). Weight, height and Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) were measured, and z scores were calculated. Association between ICFI scores and nutritional status was examined.ResultsThe mean total ICFI score for all was 5.9 ± 1.9. Among the five components, FGFS and FFS differed between children <12 months of age and >12 months and by breast feeding status. In contrast, there were no differences vis-à-vis dietary diversity scores (DDS), breast feeding, and use of bottle. Non-breastfed children had significantly higher DDS scores than did breastfed children. The mean feeding frequency score (FFS) for children <12 months of age was slightly but not significantly lower than scores for children >12 months of age. Mother’s age and child’s age were significant determinants of ICFI. Multivariate analysis indicated that ICFI was significantly associated with Length-for-Age z scores (LAZ) and BMI-for-Age z scores (BAZ). Sensitivity of ICFI was lower than its specificity.ConclusionsThe results of the present study confirmed that the ICFI can be used to collect information on key components of young child feeding practices and be incorporated into public-health programmes. Further, it could be used to determine the influence of complementary feeding practices on nutritional status of children.

(139.4 ± 34.5) was lower than that of boys (173.8 ± 45.5) (p < .001). With respect to adequacy of folate intake, a greater proportion of girls in the age group of 13-15 years (78.5% vs 38.6%, p < 0.001) and 16-17 years (100.0% vs 76.9%, p = 0.04

Serum alpha-tocopherol, retinol, and malondialdehyde concentrations were measured at 7(th) month of pregnancy in 122 women from low socio-economic background. Maternal anthropometric measurements, 24-hour nutrient intakes, and pregnancy outcome were recorded. One-third (34.3 %) of mothers had low birth weight babies and 10 % delivered preterm. Maternal diets were inadequate in all the nutrients, the most limiting being vitamin A. Three-fourths of mothers had intakes less than 25 % of the Indian recommended daily intake (RDI) of 600 microg retinol equivalents/day. Serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations of 98 % were indicative of deficiency and almost half the mothers had low serum retinol concentrations (< or =10 microg/dL). Mean malondialdehyde level was 7.0 +/- 1.4 nmoles/mL. These values are higher than reports in the literature and were attributable to poor intake of most dietary antioxidants. Malondialdehyde concentrations were negatively correlated with serum alpha-tocopherol. Birth weight was positively correlated with maternal weight and biceps skinfold thickness, macronutrient intakes, serum retinol, and alpha-tocopherol concentrations. Preterm delivery was associated with low anthropometric measurements and low nutrient intakes especially vitamin A. Mothers who delivered preterm had significantly lower malondialdehyde concentrations than those who delivered at term. The role of antioxidant nutrients, especially vitamin A and oxidative stress in relation to fetal growth and pregnancy outcome among mothers from low socioeconomic settings requires attention.