ABSTRACT
Objective: To find out the growth in the exclusively breastfed babies of the affluent mothers and to compare the figures with those of the children in the industrialized countries. Methods and materials: Fifty-three babies were selected in 1 year time period for this cross-sectional study under 6-month of age with prefixed criteria, such as exclusively breastfed and not fed with any formula feeding. Recommended schedule of immunization (EPI) was followed to weigh and measure for supine length. Data were analyzed in PC through SPSS and some calculations were done in calculator too. Place and time of work: Data were collected from August 2011 to June 2012 in the Pediatrics Department of Bangladesh Medical College Hospital and the Researcher’s Chamber at Dhanmondi, Dhaka. Results: The data of developed countries showed that in first 3-month of age, children grow in weight 30 gm/day and in length 3.5 cm/month, followed by weight gain of 20 gm/day and linear growth 2 cm/ month in next 3-6 months. Our babies could be compared to those figures, with 33.54 gm/day in the weight gain and 4.17 cm/month in linear growth in the first 3 months. The average weight gain during the next 3 months (3-6 months of age) was 22.3 gm/d and linear growth for this period was 2.12 cm/month. Conclusion: Babies of our country in well-off families can grow optimally in comparison to the growth of the babies in the industrialized countries, or even can exceed, if they are exclusively breastfed and brought up ensuring immunization and follow up in educated mothers.
ABSTRACT
Stool samples of 1500 children of different socio-economic status of Dacca city was examined for the presence of intestinal parasites. Samples were collected on voluntary basis which may be treated as randomised. Out of these 1500 children, 816 were male and 684 were female. The overall incidence of parasites was 65.80%, the male children slightly prepondering over the female children. Children of age group 6-10 years showed high incidence of almost all the parasites. Children of Basti area showed the highest incidence (about 90%) and most of them harboured multiple parasites. About 27.13% of infants under the age of one year (mostly from Basti area) harboured parasites. Intestinal parasites were observed that both housing and economic status played vital roles in the occurrence of intestinal parasitosis but the housing and environmental conditions were found to be in a stronger position than economic status.