Feeding practices and micronutrient status of children aged 0–36 months in Thulamela Municipality, Limpopo province
Health SA Gesondheid
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Feeding practices and micronutrient status of children aged 0–36 months in Thulamela Municipality, Limpopo province | |
| Creator | Mugware, Anzani Motadi, Selekane A. Mushaphi, Lindelani F. | |
| Description | Background: Micronutrient deficiency continues to be a major public health problem affecting infants and young children under 5 years of age worldwide.Aim: The study aims to investigate feeding practices and micronutrient status of children aged 0–36 months.Setting: The study was conducted at government clinics located in Thulamela Municipality, which is one of the local municipalities in Vhembe District, Limpopo province.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted. A total of 250 mothers with children aged 0–36 months were enrolled. A structured questionnaire was used to interview the mothers. Biochemical measurements of children were assessed using standard procedures.Results: Only 7.6% of children were exclusively breastfed for 6 months. Majority (87.5%) of the children were introduced to complementary foods before 6 months and 98.8% of the children had a low dietary diversity score of less than four, while 9.2% had a dietary diversity score of more than four. The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency, anaemia and iron deficiency was 21.7%, 53.6% and 13.1%, respectively. For mothers who initiated breastfeeding immediately after delivery, the odds of children having low ferritin were 0.11 times, as compared to children who were initiated breastfeeding a day after delivery (odds ratio = 0.11; 95% confidence interval = 0.015–0.812).Conclusion: Most of the children were introduced to complementary foods earlier than 6 months of age. Infant feeding practices were associated with micronutrients status.Contribution: The study contributes to the body of literature on feeding practices and the micronutrient status of children. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS Publishing | |
| Date | 2022-10-24 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/hsag.v27i0.1973 | |
| Source | Health SA Gesondheid; Vol 27 (2022); 9 pages 2071-9736 1025-9848 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
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