Regional Analysis of Associations between Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices and Diarrhoea in Indian Children

Mansi Vijaybhai Dhami, Felix Akpojene Ogbo, Thierno M.O. Diallo, Kingsley E. Agho and on behalf of the Global Maternal and Child Health Research Collaboration (GloMACH)
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Mansi Vijaybhai Dhami: Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Penrith, NSW 2571, Australia
Felix Akpojene Ogbo: Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Penrith, NSW 2571, Australia
Thierno M.O. Diallo: School of Social Sciences, Western Sydney University, Penrith Campus, Penrith, NSW 2571, Australia
Kingsley E. Agho: Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Penrith, NSW 2571, Australia
on behalf of the Global Maternal and Child Health Research Collaboration (GloMACH): Members of GloMACH are listed in the acknowledgments.

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-15

Abstract: Studies on the association between infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices and diarrhoea across regional India are limited. Hence, we examined the association between IYCF practices and diarrhoea in regional India. A weighted sample of 90,596 (North = 11,200, South = 16,469, East = 23,317, West = 11,512, Central = 24,870 and North-East = 3228) from the 2015–2016 National Family Health Survey in India was examined, using multivariate logistic regressions that adjust for clustering and sampling weights. The IYCF indicators included early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF), exclusive breastfeeding (ExcBF), predominant breastfeeding (PBF), bottle feeding (BotF), continued breastfeeding (BF) at one-year, continued BF at two years, children ever breastfed and the introduction of solid, semi-solid or soft foods (ISSSF). Diarrhoea prevalence was lower among infants who were BF within one-hour of birth and those who were exclusively breastfed. Multivariate analyses revealed that continued BF at one and two years, and infants who were introduced to complementary foods had a higher prevalence of diarrhoea. EIBF and ExcBF were protective against diarrhoea in the regions of North, East and Central India. PBF, BotF and ISSSF were risk factors for diarrhoea in Central India. Continued BF at two years was a risk factor for diarrhoea in Western India. Findings suggested that EIBF and ExcBF were protective against diarrhoea in Northern, Eastern and Central India, while PBF, BotF, continued BF at two years and ISSSF were risk factors for diarrhoea in various regions in India. Improvements in IYCF practices are likely to reduce the burden of diarrhoea-related morbidity and mortality across regions in India.

Keywords: diarrhoea; India; infants; young children; breastfeeding; complementary feeding (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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