Impact of Infant Feeding Pattern on Growth Parameter at Azady Health Care Center/Erbil City

Abstract

Background: Adequate nutrition during infancy and early childhood is essential to ensure the growth, health, and development of children to their full potential. It has been recognized worldwide that breastfeeding is beneficial for both the mother and child, as breast milk is considered the best source of nutrition for an infant.

Objective: To find out the impact of infant feeding pattern on growth parameter.

Methodology: An evolutional study was conducted at Azady Health Care Center during the period of early June to late August 2014 on 100 infants. Data were gathered by a combination of a structured questionnaire and measurements of length (or height), and weight. Results were analyzed by using SPSS Version 19.

Results: Out of 100 study subjects, 54% were female with 59 (59%) age group of 4-6 months. most of mothers’
ages (66 %) were between 21-30 years. Majority of infants are on Mixed Feeding 55 (55.0%), while 35 (35.0%)
and 10 (10.0%) on Exclusive Breast and Bottle Feeding respectively. According to length/height-for-age index,
52.0% of subjects were within normal range and 34% of them were risk for stunted, 62% of infants were within normal range and 27.0% risk for underweight of weight for age, as weight-for-length/height 47.0% of them were within normal range, 24.0% risk for wasted and 22.0% risk for overweight. Statistically there is significant association between infant feeding with weight for age and weight for length Z-score in contrast there is no significant association between infant feeding with length for age Z-score.

Conclusion: the study presented that there was relationship between infant feeding pattern and growth parameter
(weight for age and weight for length Z-score).

Recommendation: encouraging the mothers to continue visiting Health Care Center for monitoring growth and
give exclusive breast feeding at least for 1st six months and after that can start by supplementary feeding.