Abstract

Diarrhea is one of the leading causes of childhood mortality and accounts for nearly 9% of under-5 children deaths, as well as morbidity, under nutrition and stunting. There is an increasing evidence of association between feeding practices in childhood and the occurrence of childhood diarrhea. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on infants and children less than 2 years of age suffering from diarrhoeal diseases admitted in the Bundelkhand Medical College, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh. A total of 200 caregivers and mothers of children < 2 years of age were interviewed with the help of a predesigned questionnaire. RESULTS: Among 200 children who presented with diarrhea, most common age of presentation was 12-24 months (44.5%), with more males 61.5% and majority were from rural area 65.5%. During diarrhea, ORS was consumed by only 74% children. Khichdhi was the most common food consumed during diarrhea, by 21% children. In our study, 71% were exclusively breastfed. Mixed feeding (breastfeeding and top feeding) was provided to 58(29%) children before 6 months, among them maximum children were less than 2 months of age. Most common top milk given was cow milk given to 77.6% of children. Staple diet of this region among children was cereal –based diet (58.5%). Bottle feeding was given to 72.4% children. CONCLUSION: In our study we had seen that there were different types of feeding practices among children who presented with diarrhea. So, we should focus on educating mothers about diarrhea illness, importance of fluids during diarrhea, knowledge regarding different feeding practices in children and hygienic practices to be followed by mother or caregivers.

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