RESUMO
Background: Nutrition in the first two years of life is important for growth and development among children. To tackle undernutrition during this period, timely initiation of breastfeeding and quality of complementary feeding practices are essential. So, this study was planned to determine feeding practices associated with severe acute malnutrition children. Methods: This was hospital-based case-control study with 1:1 ratio of cases (77) and controls (77). Cases and controls were matched for age and sex. Cases were selected from Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre and controls from Immunization clinic. Mothers were interviewed about feeding practices, immunization status and illness of their child. Weight and height of children were also measured. Results: Children who received pre-lacteal feeding were associated with SAM. Most of cases (62.3%) and controls (70.1%) had received breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth. Among children of <7 months age, 71.4% cases breast-fed <8 times in 24 hours. Among children of 7 months to 2 years, SAM was associated with children who were not received complementary feeding (CF) at correct age, not received semi-solid/solid diet, CF not added with ghee/oil and feeding frequency <5 times in day. Among cases 18.2% and only 1.3% controls had >3 ARI episodes in last 6 months. Conclusions: Among identified independent risk factors (p<0.05), type of CF, not adding ghee/oil in CF and feeding frequency (BF+CF) <5 times were associated with SAM among 7 months to 2 years. Hospitalization history and >3 ARI episodes in last 6 months were also associated with SAM.
RESUMO
Background and Aim: The World Health Organization (WHO) defines an Adolescent as “an individual between 10-19 years of age”. As adolescents are not a homogenous group, their needs vary with their sex, stage of development, life circumstances & their socioeconomic conditions. Inspite of existing Adolescent Friendly Health Services (AFHS), adolescents are reluctant to utilize them because of lack of privacy & confidentiality. Aims of this study are (1) To study reproductive health needs of adolescent girls (2) To assess awareness & utilization of AFHS. Methodology: Community based cross sectional study was conducted in Urban Health Training Centre (UHTC) field practice area of Govt. Medical College, Bhavnagar among 532 Adolescent girls during February 2014 to August 2014. Information about their reproductive health needs, awareness about AFHS & its utilization were collected by pretested prestuctured questionnaire. Data entry & analysis done in Epi info software (version3.2). Results: In the present study regarding reproductive health needs, more than half (54.71%) girls desired correct information about reproductive health system , problems & hygiene & most of the girls (53.20%) choose seminar as best source to provide such information. 21.99% girls desired supply of sanitary pads at lower cost than market. An important finding was that very few (14.1%) girls were aware of AFHS. Among those who were aware of AFHS, 38.67% girls had visited & satisfied with services. The major reason for not utilizing AFHS was shyness among 54.35% girls. Conclusion: Information about reproductive health (54.71%) & supply of sanitary pad at lower prices than market (21.99%) are two important reproductive health needs of adolescent girls. Awareness & utilization of AFHS is very less among adolescent girls due to various barriers.