ABSTRACT
Background: Immunization is the cost-effective public health intervention that prevents and protects against vaccine preventable diseases. The objective was to estimate the timeliness in receiving age appropriate vaccines and to study selected factors influencing the timeliness of age appropriate vaccines as per national immunization schedule among children aged 0 to 23 months in a rural area of Pondicherry. Methods: A retrospective study was done at a Community Health Centre, Karikalampakkam, Pondicherry using data from immunization registers of children aged 0 to 23 months, who were born between July 01, 2013 to July 31, 2015. If the child was vaccinated within 7 days of the scheduled time, it was considered as timely vaccination. Results: Out of 679 children, 52% were males and 48% were females. The median days of delay in vaccination were ranged from 1-171 days. The proportion and the median days of delay were increased progressively as the age of the child increased. The place of delivery was significantly associated with birth doses of OPV, Hepatitis B and BCG vaccination. There was a significant difference in timeliness of vaccination across the birth order of the children for the first, second and third doses of OPV and Pentavalent vaccines (p=0.02). Birth weight of the children was not statistically associated with vaccination delay. Conclusions: Delay in vaccination in varying frequency was observed for the vaccines administered under the national immunisation schedule. Hence, the age-appropriate vaccinations should be given up-to-date as well as on time.
ABSTRACT
Background: Optimal infant and young child feeding practices (IYCF) are essential to address the increasing burden of malnutrition and for the overall development of the children. The present study was conducted to estimate the proportion of optimal infant and young child feeding practices among rural children aged 0 to 23 months and study the associated socio demographic factors.Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 360 children in the age group of 0 to 23 months in a rural field practice area of a medical college in Puducherry. Data on IYCF practices were collected using a standardized tool developed by WHO. Core and optional IYCF indicators were calculated. Chi-square test and Fishers’ exact test were used as tests of significance.Results: Almost 88.0% of infants were initiated early on breastfeeding and 90.8% were exclusively breastfed for six months. Children who were continuously breastfed at one year and two years were 77.4% and 22.4% respectively. About 75.0% were introduced with solid or semisolid foods at 6 to 8 months of age. Among children aged 6 to 23 months, 77.3% had the recommended minimum dietary diversity, 81.3% had the minimum meal frequencies, while 57.7% received the minimum acceptable diet and only 39.4% consumed iron rich foods. Gender was significantly associated with the practice of continued breastfeeding at one year, adequate minimum dietary diversity and minimum meal frequency.Conclusions: The core and optional IYCF indicators were acceptably good in the initial six months of life but thereafter showed suboptimal levels, which should be emphasized among the mothers or primary care givers.