Research Journal of Medical Sciences
ISSN: Online 1993-6095ISSN: Print 1815-9346
Abstract
Weaning is defined as a transitional process of introducing soft, semisolid, solid foods gradually to replace breast feeding. Appropriate weaning practices starts at 6 months of age with age optimal minimum dietary diversity, minimum meal frequency and continued breast feeding. To identify the current variations in weaning practices among mothers and to assess the influence of early and delayed weaning on the infant’s growth at 6 months and 1 year of life This prospective observational cohort study was conducted among all new‐born’s born at Rainbow Children’s Hospital, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad during the study period and satisfying the inclusion criteria during study period: September 2019‐April 2021. In this study, of the 300 women, the mean± SD age was 29.86±4.34 years and 156 (52%) women were in the age category of 30 to 35 years. Exclusive breast feeding for 6 months was followed in 40% and early weaning was introduced in 60% babies. Breast milk together with formula milk was the preferred feeding practices before starting weaning by mothers who initiated early weaning. There was a significant positive association regarding mother’s educational qualification, occupation, socio economic class with weaning practices. There was no significant difference between percentage of working and not working mothers who initiated early weaning practices. There was a statistically significant difference in the weaning practices and mode of delivery (p = 0.003). Family’s instruction (54%) played a significant role in deciding the time of initiation of weaning in our study. In our study, there was a statistically significant difference in the anthropometric parameters of timely and early weaned infants (p = 0.001). Early weaning practices were more frequently done than timely weaning practices. Early weaning was practiced by mothers with lesser education and in low socioeconomic group. Family’s instruction was the main reason to initiate early weaning. First born babies were weaned early. Home‐made food was the most preferred weaning diet; Raggi and rice powder were the commonest. Timely weaned babies were found to be bigger and taller when compared to the early weaned babies, however, it was not clinically significant. There was a significant increase in the head circumference of timely weaned infants both at 6 months and at 1 year.
How to cite this article:
Anjusha Jose, P. Aparna Reddy, Vijayanand Jamalpuri and Prasanna Lakshmi. Variations in Weaning Practices and its Influence on Growth in Infants.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/10.59218/makrjms.2024.5.463.468
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1815-9346/10.59218/makrjms.2024.5.463.468