Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices in India: A Comparison of Empowered Action Group (EAG) and non-EAG States

Abstract

This study attempts to understand the infant and young child feeding practices amongchildren under five years of age in Empowered Action Group (EAG) and non-EAGstates of India. It looks into the children who received colostrum, breastfed within 24hours after birth and age at which they start receiving semi-solid or solid food. Data from District Level Household and Facility Survey-3 conducted during 2007-08 among ever-married women aged 15-49 years have been used. Bi-variate, cox proportional hazards and logistic regression have been used to see the effect of background characteristics of mother and child on the feeding practices. The study finds that about three-fourths of the children were given solids food when they completed one year. The mean length of breast feeding was higher in rural areas than urban areas. Infant feeding practices in EAG states were of poor quality and breast feeding had not started immediately after birth. Counselling and advice to women during ANC and delivery for infant feeding practices are urgently needed.