Introduction:Optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding have been proven to reduce malnutrition.Declining socio-economic environment is associated with poor feeding practices,high morbidity,and risk of malnutriti...Introduction:Optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding have been proven to reduce malnutrition.Declining socio-economic environment is associated with poor feeding practices,high morbidity,and risk of malnutrition among children from urban poor families.Objective:The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess child-feeding practices and morbidity prevalence among Harare urban-families living in low socio-economic areas.Methods:A health-facility based cross-sectional study was conducted in five clinics of Harare serving low socio-economic communities between July and August 2014.A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire assessing child-feeding practices was used to interview primary caregivers.Prevalence of diarrhea,influenza,malaria,measles,fever,and cough was assessed.Data were analysed using SPSS v21.Results:A total of 218 mother-child pairs attending growth monitoring were enrolled in the study:Seventy-five percent of the children were below two years;early introduction of solid foods(before six months)was observed in 81.4%of the children.Forty-nine percent of young children were fed at least four meals per day and 74%had been weaned onto family meals;Twenty-four percent of the children had diarrhea,59%influenza,1%malaria,1%measles,23%fever and 53%cough in the month preceding the survey.Conclusion:There is a high prevalence of suboptimal feeding practices and morbidity in low socio-economic urban communities of Harare.There is need to design child-feeding interventions for the urban community targeting all family members involved in decision-making.展开更多
基金We extend our appreciation to every mother and child who participated in this study.We would also like to thank the Harare City Health Department for permitting us to carry out our study.DTC received support from the National Institutes of Health Fogarty International Center(grant#D43TW007991)the DAAD German Exchange Service scholarship(grant#A1294524).
文摘Introduction:Optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding have been proven to reduce malnutrition.Declining socio-economic environment is associated with poor feeding practices,high morbidity,and risk of malnutrition among children from urban poor families.Objective:The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess child-feeding practices and morbidity prevalence among Harare urban-families living in low socio-economic areas.Methods:A health-facility based cross-sectional study was conducted in five clinics of Harare serving low socio-economic communities between July and August 2014.A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire assessing child-feeding practices was used to interview primary caregivers.Prevalence of diarrhea,influenza,malaria,measles,fever,and cough was assessed.Data were analysed using SPSS v21.Results:A total of 218 mother-child pairs attending growth monitoring were enrolled in the study:Seventy-five percent of the children were below two years;early introduction of solid foods(before six months)was observed in 81.4%of the children.Forty-nine percent of young children were fed at least four meals per day and 74%had been weaned onto family meals;Twenty-four percent of the children had diarrhea,59%influenza,1%malaria,1%measles,23%fever and 53%cough in the month preceding the survey.Conclusion:There is a high prevalence of suboptimal feeding practices and morbidity in low socio-economic urban communities of Harare.There is need to design child-feeding interventions for the urban community targeting all family members involved in decision-making.
