Complementary Feeding Pattern and Nutritional Status of Children.

Objective: To determine the complementary feeding patterns and their association with malnutrition.

Study design: Prospective observational study. Place and Duration of the Study: Outpatient clinics of Aga Khan University Hospital, Pakistan, from June to November 2019.

Methodology: A total of 207 children from age six to twenty-four months, who presented in the outdoor clinics of the study place, were enrolled. Data were recorded in a predesigned data sheet adopted from the infant and young child feeding module. Chi-square test was applied post-stratification and a p-value of <0.05 was taken as significant.

Results: Among a total of 207 children, 115 (55.6%) were males and 92 (44.4%) were females, with a mean age of 14.15 ± 5.6 months. Complementary feeding was started at an appropriate age in 124 (60%) children. Normal weight was seen in 133 (64.3%) children, while 73 (35.3%) were underweight. Stunting was presented in 44 (21.3%) children, whereas 163 (78.7%) children were of normal length. The most common reason for early initiation of complementary feeding was difficulty in continuing to breastfeed (n=50, 24.2%); the most common reason behind late complementary feeding was bottle feeding (n=45, 21.7%).

Conclusion: Only sixty percent of mothers living in an urban setting started complementary feeding at an appropriate age. Various myths are counteracting complementary feeding practices.

Key words: Complementary feeding, Infant's nutrition, Stunting, Wasting, Z-score.