TY  - JOUR
T1  - Relationship Between Feeding Practices and Patterns of Infant Growth:
A Cross-Sectional Study
AU - Gbadamosi, Mojeed Akorede AU - Goon, Daniel Ter AU - Tugli, Augustine 
JO  - Research Journal of Medical Sciences
VL  - 11
IS  - 4
SP  - 166
EP  - 173
PY  - 2017
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1815-9346
DO  - rjmsci.2017.166.173
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=rjmsci.2017.166.173
KW  - Breastfeeding
KW  -feeding practice
KW  -growth
KW  -infants
KW  -stunting
KW  -underweight
KW  -wasting
KW  -rural setting
AB  - Breastfeeding is well known and widely practiced in South Africa. However, exclusive breastfeeding
is uncommon. This study examines the relationship between feeding practices and patterns of infant growth
in the Northern region of Limpopo Province of South Africa. Secondary analysis was done on feeding practices
data and child anthropometric measurements (weight, length and head circumference) were taken at a regular
interval of 1 month for 186 infants for 1 year. At birth, 6.5% of infants had a low birth weight, 11.3% were
stunted, 8.1% underweight and 7.5% were wasted. Stunting became noticeable in the early months with 18.9%
being stunted (<-2SD) by the third month and this percentage remained high for the 12 months period.
Increased weight gain was observed during the first 3 months but then declined until the mean WAZ
at 12 months was below zero SD. About 6% of infants were overweight (>2SD) by the 12th months. The infants
in this study were breastfed for longer period with 78% still breast feeding by the 9th months. However,
exclusive breastfeeding was uncommon because of early introduction of supplementary food with 39.5% of
infants receiving some grains by the end of the 1st month. Only 0.6% of the infants were exclusively breastfed
for more than 3 months. The infants were introduced to supplementary feeds at an early age and had a low birth
weight were stunted, underweight and wasted. There was no significant relationship between feeding practice
and infant growth. Wasting was associated with the average income of the households. Interventions are
needed to promote appropriate feeding during pregnancy, early initiation of breastfeeding as well as correct
complementary feeding as advocated by UNICEF.
ER  -