Infant and young child feeding Practices prevailing in the rural Community- a cross sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Infancy and early childhood are most crucial period for a child’s growth and development. As the child needs more nutrition during this period, an appropriate and adequate infant and young child feeding practice have a profound impact on the child’s survival as well as the physical, social, and cognitive development 1 . WHO says “As a global public health recommendation, infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months, should receive safe and nutritionally adequate complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond’’. 2 In India NFHS 4 & 5 showed, there is an improvement in breastfeeding practices. So this was study was conducted to study the IYCF practices along with customs and beliefs associated with it and its association with the nutritional status. Objectives: To know the Infant and young child feeding practices prevailing in the rural community, to know the customs and beliefs associated with feeding practices and also to find association between feeding practices and nutritional status.