1Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Subharti Medical College, Meerut, UP
2Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Subharti Medical College, Meerut, UP
3Assistant Professor (Biostatistics), Subharti Medical College, Meerut, UP
4Assistant Professor, (Medical Sociology), Swami Vivekananda Subharti University, Meerut, UP
*Corresponding author: Dr Sartaj Ahmad Swami Vivekananda Subharti University Meerut. UP Contact: 09897093882, Email: artajsaleem@gmail.com
Online published on 24 August, 2016.
The first two year of life provide a critical window of opportunity for ensuring children's appropriate growth and development through optimal feeding. Infant feeding practices comprising of both the breastfeeding as well as complementary feeding have major role in determining the nutritional status of the child. Worldwide, it is estimated that only 34.8% of infants are exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life, the majority receiving some other food or fluid in the early months.
To study practices of feeding pattern in children under two years in rural and urban area of Meerut.
This cross sectional study was carried out in rural and urban population of Meerut city, between 0 to 24 months of age using predesigned and pretested Performa. Data was analyzed and statistically evaluated.
This study suggested that practices of feeding pattern of rural children are low than urban children in Meerut. In addition, these practices of feeding do affect the growth parameters of a child.
This study revealed that practices of feeding pattern of rural children are poor than urban children in Meerut. Mother's perceptions regarding feeding practices directly influence the health of the child. False beliefs and myths attached to child's feeding deeply rooted in all strata of community; need to be replaced by sound and scientific messages.
Socio-economic status, source of knowledge, Prelacteal feeds, Breastfeeding
