DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2021.v09i01.001

Pages: 1-10

Introduction: Global strategy of IYCF (Infant and Young Child Feeding) was approved by WHO and UNICEF IN 2000 for optimal growth and development of child. IYCF means both breast feeding and complementary feeding. Breast feeding is the best way of providing ideal food for infants. It results in improved infant and maternal health outcomes. Giving infants new appropriate foods along with breast milk is known as complementary feeding. Good complementary feeding practices are essential to protect infants and children from both under and over nutrition. Objectives: To determine infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices along with their nutritional status of the fewer than 1 year children attended in Shaheed Suhrawardi Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Study Design: Descriptive type of cross sectional study. Study Setting and Period: Pediatric outpatient department and EPI centre of Shaheed Suhrawardi Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, from November 2010 to July 2011. Materials and Methods: Total 386 infants with their mother attending Pediatric outpatient department and EPI centre of Shaheed Suhrawardi Medical College Hospital were included in the study. Investigator herself interviewed the mother using a structured questionnaire. Feeding history of infants was collected from mothers using 24 hrs recall method. The height and weight of infants were measured. Results: Among 386, 52.3% infants were under six months and 47.7% were between 6 months to 12 months of age. Some (6.7%) infants were given Prelacteal feed, some (13%) given only supplementary food. Exclusive breast feeding rate was high (81%), as well as continued breast feeding (86.3%). Timely complementary feeding started in majority (85%) infants. In exclusive breast fed infants as well as infants who were given complementary feeding although the nutritional status was satisfactory, there was high prevalence of mild growth deficiency which may reflect inappropriate feeding status. Frequency and....