Complementary Feeding Practices amongst Children Aged 6-18 Months in Tribal Parts of Maharashtra, India - Requires to be Complemented Aptly

Aim: The present study was carried out to document the complementary feeding practices in the view of understanding reasons of delayed or deficient practices in children aged six-18 months, from tribal regions of Maharashtra.

Study Design: This was a descriptive, cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted during February 2015- October 2015 in selected blocks from three tribal districts of Maharashtra viz: Amravati, Gadchiroli and Nandurbar.

Methodology: In each study village, five children in the age group of 6 to18 months were selected using systematic random sampling from anganwadi register and mothers of these children were interviewed. A total of 75 mothers were interviewed. Data entry and statistical analysis were performed using the Microsoft Excel and SPSS. Percentages and cumulative percentages were used to present the results.

Results: Majority of children (65%) were introduced to top feeding around six-seven months, which is a recommended age for initiation of top feeding. While in one fifth of cases (20%) delayed top feeding was observed. Delayed commencement of top feeding was found to be mainly associated with mothers own beliefs, misconceptions and in some cases child’s sickness, unwillingness of child for eating, lack of knowledge with mothers regarding initiation of top feeding. Only 13.3% of children were fed minimum number of times as per WHO and UNICEF indicators. Fruits were totally missing in the diet. Instead, junk food was offered to more than half of the children while 14 children were given tea!

Conclusion: The overall picture indicates that although a majority of mothers were unaware regarding appropriate feeding practices for meeting the child’s nutritional requirements. Top feeding practices are found to be deficient in terms of under feeding and lack of nutritionally balanced diet in the studied children.