Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Practices and Nutritional Status of Children Under Five in Urban Slums of Surat: A Longitudinal Study
Keywords:
IYCF, stunting, wasting, underweightAbstract
Background: Optimum infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices play a pivotal role in combating malnutrition especially in Indian slum. Aim & Objective: To assess IYCF practices among under five children residing in urban slums. Objective: To document the nutritional status and feeding practices of children under five years in urban slums, thereby informing strategies to improve child nutrition and health outcomes in these vulnerable populations.
Methods: A prospective longitudinal study of 170 children under five was followed over two months. Anthropometric measurements were taken at baseline, one-month, and two-month intervals. Nutritional status was assessed. IYCF indicators—Minimum Meal Frequency (MMF), Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD), and Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD)—evaluated.
Results: Low birth weight (<2.5 kg) was seen in 24.7% of children. At baseline, 15.4% were wasted, 32.9% underweight, and 39.4% stunted. Significant weight gain was observed at follow-up (0.47 ± 0.67 kg at one month; 0.69 ± 0.97 kg at two months; p < 0.001), and wasting declined to 8.8%. While 74.7% initiated breastfeeding within one hour and 91.2% received colostrum, complementary feeding was suboptimal: 58.9% met MMF, 53.6% met MDD, and only 32.1% met MAD. Pre-lacteal feeding occurred in 16.5%. Dietary diversity was limited, particularly in animal-source and micronutrient-rich foods. No significant associations were found between IYCF indicators and nutritional status.
Conclusion: Despite reduced wasting after short-term counselling, chronic malnutrition remains high. Inadequate complementary feeding and poor dietary diversity intensifies the need for integrated, sustained interventions addressing IYCF practices, maternal education, and food security in urban slum settings.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Dhwani Chauhan, Dr. Jigna Gohil, Dr. Naresh T. Chauhan, Dr. Sushant Ashok Nooji, Dr. Anujith A M, Dr. J. K. Kosambiya
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