Morbidity, Feeding Practices, and Immunization Status of Children 6 - 23 Months in Delhi

Abstract

Optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices and immunization play a critical role in averting childhood illness and in achieving optimal growth and development among children. This was a cross-sectional study that assessed the morbidity and immunization status of children 6–23 months of age in three income groups in Delhi. The study also assessed feeding practices for children during illness. Results showed that the prevalence of diarrhea in the past 2 weeks preceding the survey was 8.6%, 18.3%, and 17.7% in urban slum, low-income group (LIG), and middle-income group (MIG), respectively. About 50% of children in LIG and MIG and about 45% in the urban slum had fever in the past 2 weeks preceding the survey. About 20% of mothers in urban slum and LIG reported that they were not washing their hands with soap before preparing food for their children. Although most of the children with diarrhea had received oral rehydration salts, they had not received zinc which is critical in the treatment of diarrhea. About 24% of mothers in the urban slum discontinued complementary feeding during illness. The immunization was complete for most of the children in all groups except for the 2nd dose of measles vaccine and booster dose of OPV and DPT vaccine whose coverage was found to be low in urban slums. There is an urgent need of counseling and support on IYCF during and after common childhood illnesses by the frontline health functionaries to reduce the high burden of undernutrition among children under 2 years.