Feeding Pattern of Malnourished Children Admitted to Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre (Nrc) in Basrah General Hospital

Abstract

Across sectional study was carried out to evaluate the feeding pattern of malnourished children and to study the association between their demographic and nutritional variables. The study was conducted on 157 infants and children aged 2-36 months (65 males and 92 females) attending Nutritional Rehabilitation Center In Basrah General Hospital during the period from November 2007 till the end of May 2008. Selected demographic variables, feeding pattern, age of administration and type of different complementary foods and frequency of these food items were recorded. Measurement of weight and height or length by standard procedures was done for all infants and children recruited in the study. Anthropometric data were applied to appropriate charts: weight for length Z score, weight for age Z-score and height for age Z-score which were estimated according to CDC/WHO charts. all studied children were underweight; (93.6%) wasted and (87.3%) were stunted, (9.5% and 90.5%) were with severe and moderate wasting respectively, (38% and 62%) with severe and moderate stunting respectively, (45.9%, 54%) with severe and moderate underweight respectively. Study of feeding pattern of malnourished children has revealed that (28.7%) were on breastfeeding; (36.9%) formula feeding & (34.4%) with mixed feeding. Regarding the duration of breastfeeding; (75.8%) were breastfed less than 12 months. The age onset of complementary feeding; 71(65.1%) of children had their complementary feeding at age of 4-6 months. Malnourished children consume mainly cereals & rice in high proportion (38.9%, 56.1%) and least for fish and meat (3.8%, 4.5%) respectively. Children were given complementary food on daily bases in order of frequency of administration; (7%) were given rice, (5.7%) vegetables, (3.2%) cereals, (2.5%) eggs and (1.9%) fruits. Other foods were never on daily bases or even occasionally (> 1/wk) including meat, fish, legumes; they were never given in (95.5%, 96% & 88.5%) respectively. In conclusion: there was a significant positive correlation between age of onset of complementary feeding and underweight.