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  • Title: Socio-cultural and economic aspects of infant-feeding.
    Author: Karkal M.
    Journal: Indian Pediatr; 1975 Jan; 12(1):13-9. PubMed ID: 1174104.
    Abstract:
    The existing pattern of feeding habits must be known before one can draw up a plan for infant nutrition. In suggesting a balanced diet, there must not be too much divergence from existing habits, and there must be an understanding of the present behavior and its rationale. Certain data are available from the population representative of the socioeconomic group of the metropolitan area of Greater Bombay and from some of the rural areas of neighboring Thana District. This data could provide the background material for guiding and planning a balanced diet for infants. Data are presented in table form that show that for the 1st quartile of the infants, the weaning begins as early as the 1st month. For the 2nd quartile, that it is at 3 months, and for the 3rd it is at 6 months. At about the age of 1 year, only about 4% of the children continue to be toally dependent on the mother's milk. It is also shown in the table that 9.7% of the mothers practically had never breastfed their infants. Most of the mothers started supplementary breast feeds because they felt that the child was not getting enough food. As much as 98% of the total number of mothers in the Bombay sample used milk of some kind or the other as the 1st top feed of the infants. The remainder gave fruit juices, tea or coffee as the 1st top feed. Of the mothers who reported to be supplementing the breast feeding with milk, 33.8% were using the milk supplied under the Maharashtra Government Milk Scheme. Nearly 30% of the mothers gave reconstituted milk of the known brands. Solids were also given by 31.5% of the total mothers. 45.2% of the mothers diluted the milk far more than was desirable, meaning that the child failed to get adequate nutrition. About 55% of the mothers gave milk brought from outside suppliers without diluting it. The average period of breast feeding was up to about 8-1/2 months. When mother's milk is the major source of food for infants, this duration is inadequate.
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