Association between infant- and child-feeding index and nutritional status: results from a cross-sectional study among children attending an urban hospital in Bangladesh

J Health Popul Nutr. 2011 Aug;29(4):349-56. doi: 10.3329/jhpn.v29i4.8450.

Abstract

Integration of infant- and child-feeding index (ICFI) addressing the multidimensional child-feeding practices into one age-specific summary index is gaining importance. This cross-sectional study was aimed at understanding the association between the ICFI and the nutritional status of 259 children, aged 6-23 months, who attended the paediatric outpatient department of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital in Bangladesh. The mean length-for-age z-score (LAZ) of children aged 12-23 months was significantly (p < 0.05) higher among those who were at the upper ICFI tercile compared to those who were at the middle or lower ICFI tercile (-2.01 and -3.20 respectively). A significant correlation was found between the ICFI and the LAZ (r = 0.24, p = 0.01 and r = 0.29, p = 0.01) in children aged 6-8-months and 12-23-months. Multivariable analysis, after adjusting for potential confounders, also found a significant association between the ICFI and the LAZ (beta = 0.13, p = 0.03). The predictive capability of the proposed ICFI on nutritional status of children, especially length-for-age, needs to be further evaluated prospectively among healthy children in the community.

MeSH terms

  • Bangladesh / epidemiology
  • Bottle Feeding / adverse effects
  • Breast Feeding / adverse effects
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Feeding Methods* / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Hospitals, Urban
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant Food / adverse effects
  • Infant Nutrition Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Male
  • Nutritional Status*
  • Outpatient Clinics, Hospital