Breastfeeding Practices and Nutritional Status of Preschool Children among the Shabar Tribal Community in Orissa, India

A cross sectional study on 101 mothers and their last child (58 males and 43 females) aged upto 5 years was undertaken among Shabar tribal community in Khurda and Cuttack districts of Orissa. The study aimed to determine the association and effect of breastfeeding practices on child undernutrition along with some socio-economic and socio-demographic variables. Weight & mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) of children and height and weight of mother were measured by standard techniques. Weight for age and MUAC for age (z-scores) were calculated for assessing child nutritional status using WHO standard (2006), whereas body mass index (BMI) was computed and used for mother’s nutritional status. Below two standard deviation of weight for age and MUAC for age were considered as underweight and undernutrition among children. Results revealed that 50% children were underweight (weight for age) and 36% percent were undernourished (MUAC for age). About 50% children were given breastfeeding after 24 hours and exclusive breastfeeding were discontinued in 51% children before attaining 6 months of age. The prevalence of underweight were significantly (p<0.05) associated with age of children and undernourished mothers. Initiation of breastfeeding after 24 hours was found to be significantly (P<0.05) associated with male children and mother’s occupation. Result also revealed that high percentage of mothers (51.7%) with primary level of education stopped exclusive breastfeeding before 6 months (P<0.05). Estimation of odd ratio (OR) suggested that exclusive breastfeeding less than 6 months is a risk factor for underweight children.