Suchergebnisse

"This publication focuses on the situation, opportunities and challenges in providing children an optimal environment for growth and development in India. Issues like early childhood care and education, nutrition opportunities through infancy, and physical and mental health of children are explored. An attempt has also been made to shed light on emerging challenges such as child development amidst pandemics like COVID-19, the increasing influence of media in the child's development, and tackling the triple burden of malnutrition. Implementation of related policies and programs, both by governmental and non-governmental agencies, has been detailed for lessons learnt. The contributors to this edition are experienced researchers, practitioners, and academicians with extensive work in their respective areas of expertise. There is a good representation from different parts of the country which gives the reader a flavor of the regional diversity while dealing with children and their issues. The book provides a comprehensive updated reference for the scientific community. In addition, students and researchers in public health, social work, epidemiology, community medicine, public nutrition, human development, anthropology and sociology are the target audience. Stakeholders involved in policy planning, program implementation and advocacy will also benefit from this publication"--

The objective of the present was to potray the breastfeeding practices followed by breastfeeding mothers, at birth and at 6 months, in urban areas of Delhi-National Capital Region. For this, 185 dyads of motherinfant aged 6 months were selected from Pediatric Outpatient Department of a government and a private hospital. A questionnaire-cum-interview was designed to collect the participants' information on breastfeeding practices. It was found that only 29.7% infants had early initiation of breastfeeding despite the high (78.9%) institutional deliveries. Around 40.5% infants were given feeds apart from breast milk, mainly infant formula (81.3%) at the hospital after birth. There were 13% infants who received pre-lacteal feeds, mainly as a traditional family custom. The practice of exclusive breastfeeding for first six months was followed by 62.2% mothers. Complementary feeding or top feeding was received by 71.9% infants, but only 45.1% mothers initiated complementary foods at the recommended age of 6 months. It can be concluded that in the urban areas of India breastfeeding practices remains poor even after rigorous work done for promotion and protection of breastfeeding. Hence strong institutional care and support for breastfeeding is required at birth and efficient counseling for appropriate feeding of the infant is needed to intensify breastfeeding.