Association between breastfeeding practices and anemia in children aged 6-60 months

Authors

  • T. R. Anjali Department of Paediatrics, Government Medical College, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
  • Shanavas Abbas Department of Paediatrics, Government Medical College, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
  • K. E. Elizabeth Department of Paediatrics, Sree Mookambika Institute of Medical Sciences, Kulasekaram, Tamil Nadu, India
  • M. Leelakumari Department of Paediatrics, Government Medical College, Trivandrum, Kerala, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20193718

Keywords:

Anemia, Association, Breastfeeding practices, Children

Abstract

Background: Anemia is one of the most common nutritional problems in India. Anemia is significantly influenced by dietary factors. Objective was to study the association between breast feeding practices and occurrence of moderate to severe anemia in children aged 6-60 months in relation to those without anemia, admitted to SAT Hospital.

Methods: Case control study done at SAT Hospital. 85 moderates to severe anemic children and 85 non anemic children were enrolled in the study. Detailed history was taken including dietary history stressing infant and young child feeding practices. Physical examination was done including anthropometric measurements. Relevant haematological investigations were done.

Results: Highest percentage of cases 76.4 % were from the age group 6 months to 24 months. Out of 85 cases 58.8% were with exclusive breastfeeding<6 months and among controls is 37.6%. Association of lack of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and anemia is statistically significant. Lack of timely introduction of complementary feeding, poor score for infant and young child feeding practices, male gender, lack of iron rich foods, small for gestational age babies were also significantly associated.

Conclusions: Maximum number of anemic children were belonging to 6 months to 24 months, Lack of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months was a major risk factor for developing anemia in children. Lack of timely introduction of complimentary feeding at 6 months and poor infant and young child feeding practices were significant risk factors for developing nutritional anemia.

References

Mesiano G, Davis GM. Ventilatory strategies in the neonatal and paediatric intensive care units. Paediatr Respir Rev. 2008;9(4):281-8.

Robert MK. The Mechanical Ventilator: Past, Present, and Future. Respir Care. 2011;56(8):1170-80.

Hernandez LA, Peevy KJ, Moise AA, Parker JC. Chest wall restriction limits high airway pressure-induced lung injury in young rabbits. J Appl Physiol. 1989;66:2364-8.

Trachsel D, McCrindle BW, Nakagawa S, Bohn D. Oxygenation Index Predicts Outcome in Children with Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2005;172(2):206-11.

Schene KM, van den Berg E, Wösten-van Asperen RM, van Rijn RR, Bos AP, van Woensel JBM. FiO2 predicts outcome in infants with respiratory syncytial virus-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2014;49(11):1138-44.

Timmons OD, Dean JM, Veernon DD. Mortality rates and prognostic variables in children with adult respiratory distress syndrome. J Pediatr. 1991;119(6):896-9.

Sinderby C, Navalesi P, Beck J, Skrobik Y, Comtois N, Friberg S, et al. Neural control of mechanical ventilation in respiratory failure. Nature Med. 1999;5(12):1433-6.

Barros DRC, Almeida CCB, Júnior A, Augusto A, Grande RA, Ribeiro MÂGO, et al. Association between oxygenation and ventilation index with the time on mechanical ventilation in pediatric intensive care patients. Revista Paulista de Pediatria. 2011;29(3):348-51.

Silva DC, Shibata AR, Farias JA, Troster EJ. How is mechanical ventilation employed in a pediatric intensive care unit in Brazil? Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2009;64(12):1161-6.

Sudarsanam TD, Jeyaseelan L, Thomas K, John G. Predictors of mortality in mechanically ventilated patients. Postgrad Med J. 2005;81(962):780-3.

Ashok PS, Jeff AC, Ajit AS. Respiratory Distress and Failure. In: NELSON TEXTBOOK OF PEDIATRICS. 20th Ed. ELSEVIER;2016;532-534.

Wong JJ, Loh TF, Testoni D, Yeo JG, Mok YH, Lee JH. Epidemiology of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome in singapore: risk factors and predictive respiratory indices for mortality. Front Pediatr. 2014;2:78.

Meinzen-Derr JK, Guerrero ML, Altaye M, Ortega-Gallegos H, Ruiz-Palacios GM, Morrow AL. Risk of Infant Anemia Is Associated with Exclusive Breast-Feeding and Maternal Anemia in a Mexican Cohort. J Nutr. 2006;136(2):452-8.

Sultan AN, Zuberi RW. Late weaning: the most significant risk factor in the development of iron deficiency anaemia at 1-2 years of age. J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad. 2003;15(2):3-7.

Khan JR, Awan N, Misu F. Determinants of anemia among 6–59 months aged children in Bangladesh: evidence from nationally representative data. BMC Pediatr. 2016;16(1):3.

Quaderi HR, Hoque MM, Ahmed NU, Begum D, Debnath B. Prevalence of Anemia in Children Aged Six Months to Thirty-Six Months - A Hospital Based Study. Bangladesh J Child Health. 2017;40(2):98-102.

Downloads

Published

2019-08-23

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles