ABSTRACT
Background: The objective was to know the impact of mother education on feeding practices of infants. Methods: Observational analytic cross sectional study. We used Semi-structured, pre-tested questionnaire to interview 355 mothers of infants, aged one and half to 12 months, who came in OPD of Department of Paediatrics UPRIMS and R, Saifai for immunization or some problem. Results: Total 267 (75.2 %) out of 355 women had initiated breast feeding within 24 hours of birth. 172 (48.5%) mothers exclusively breast fed their infants. Total 166 (46.8%) practiced Prelacteal feed. Out of 166 subjects, 121 (34.1%) practiced for 7 days and 41 (12.7%) beyond the 7 days. There were highly significant relationship found between education level of mothers with type of breast feeding, in the form of exclusive or non- exclusive breast feeding and Prelacteal feeding practices ( p <. 05). Relation between education level of mother with time of initiation of breast feeding since birth was not found statistically significant (p >0.05), but an important pattern of initiation of breast feeding was seen at the different level of mothers education. Conclusion: Ritual and customary factors have much impact then mother’s education on breast feeding practices of infants. Apart from education, breast feeding awareness programme should be increased including both literate and illiterate mothers.
ABSTRACT
Background: The clinical manifestations of HIV infection vary widely among infants, children, and adolescent. So there is a need to study the mode of transmission, clinical presentations, WHO and immunological staging among HIV infected children. Methods: Observational analytic cross sectional study. The children who were HIV positive (confirmed by ELISA for HIV-1 and HIV-2), and attending the OPD of ART Centre and SN Children Hospital, Allahabad during period of one year. The study population consisted of 47 patients, belonging to both sexes and age of 18 months to 19 years. Detailed history was taken and full clinical examination done in all cases. CD4 count was estimated at the time of presentation. Results: Predominant mode of transmission in our study was vertical and it was present in 95% cases. Fever was the most common presenting complaint and was present in 28 (59.57%) cases. The most common clinical sign was pallor in our study, present in 37 cases (78.72%) followed by lymphadenopathy 34 (72.34%). On the basis of WHO clinical staging, most of the patients in our study were found in stage 2 .On the basis of immunological staging, 51% had no evidence of immunosuppression (stage1), 18 (38.3%) had mild to advanced immunosuppression (stage 2 and 3) and 5 (10.63%) patients were severely immunosuppressed (stage 4). Conclusion: In HIV infected children predominant mode of transmission is vertical. Fever and pallor are common clinical manifestations. Most of the patients are found in WHO clinical stage 2 and immunological stage 1.