| Abstract: | A study of infant feeding practices was carried out as part of a larger longitudinal study of an urban birth cohort in an area of South Delhi, India. 802 mothers of children over 1 year of age were selected randomly for interview. The study group is considered to be a representative sampling of the economic, cultural, and ethnic groups within the population of all of Delhi. Breast feeding was almost universal but for varying durations. 5.5%, 11.7%, and 22.8% of the children were breast fed for less than 1 month, 2 months, and 6 months respectively. Literate and older mothers tended to breast feed for shorter periods of time. Illiterate mothers, on the other hand, tended to prolong breast feeding unduly. The sex of the infant and the duration of the urban stay of the mother did not seem to affect the duration of breast feeding. Supplementation with liquid feeds, 50% diluted buffalo milk in the majority of cases, was begun rather early but the introduction of semisolids and solids was very often unduly delayed. This was particularly true among illiterate mothers. Thus, it is felt that a concerted effort to educate mothers, especially illiterate and underprivileged mothers, regarding the role of breast feeding and the benefits of supplementation feeding would improve infant nutritional status. |
