Abstract: Appropriate feeding practices are fundamental importance for the survival, growth, development and health of the infant and young children. However; exclusive breastfeeding remains a challenge because of many factors. It was suggested that mother's knowledge, attitude and practice determines the effectiveness of exclusive breastfeeding. This research is a cross-sectional study aimed to assesses mother's knowledge, attitude and practice towards optimal breastfeeding among Ginjo Guduru kebele. The survey was conducted from June 29-July30, 2018, from a total of 315 mothers who had children under one (1) year age, 190 mothers were selected using simple random sampling. Structured pre-tested questionnaires, as well as the in-depth interview, was used to collect the data on the socio-economic, demographic characteristics, knowledge attitude and practice towards exclusive breastfeeding. Among mothers studied about 73.94% had good knowledge of effective breastfeeding, 63.99% of mothers had a positive attitude on effective breastfeeding, and 69.69% had a good practice of effective breastfeeding. About 24.06% of mothers had poor knowledge of effective breastfeeding, approximately 36.11% of mothers had a poor level of attitude on effective breastfeeding, and about 31.31% of mothers had a poor practice of effective breastfeeding. Health service delivery staffs Policymakers, administrators and Non-governmental organisation collaborates to draw strategies to enhance the awareness of mothers about effective breastfeeding.

Keywords:  Mother, breastfeeding, attitude, knowledge.

Abstract: Background: Malnutrition is a common public health problem among children in low and middle-income developing countries. Orphan's children are vulnerable and neglected groups in society and are more prone to malnutrition. The study aims to identify the prevalence of underweight, stunting, thinness, and factors associated with nutritional status among orphan children.

Methods: Quantitative method & analytical cross-sectional research design were used to assess the nutritional status and its associated factors among orphan children in Pokhara Valley, Nepal. The sample size of 160 children was obtained by a simple random technique. The semi-structured questionnaire, digital bathroom scale, stadiometer was used as the data collection technique. Data management and analysis were done from Epi-info, SPSS 25 version, and WHO Anthro plus.

Findings: The majority of children were malnourished (80.6%) with the prevalence of stunting (55.1%), thinness (13.8%), and overweight (6.9%). Prevalence of underweight, stunting, and thinness was high among the boys (85.5%, 26.3%, and 15.8%), but overweight was more prevalent among the girls (7.1%). Ethnicity, sex, age, stay duration in an orphanage, and education of caregivers was associated with the nutritional status of orphan children (p <0.05). Non-privileged children and children below 11 years were more prone to malnutrition.

Conclusion: Malnutrition is highly prevalent in orphan children and needs to be addressed. There is still limited study available on the nutritional status of orphan children in Nepal. Nutritional status should be monitored regularly for early identification and timely intervention of malnutrition to promote the nutrition health status of orphan children.

Keywords:  Overweight, Stunting, Underweight, Malnutrition, Orphan Children.

Download

Abstract: Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA), especially linoleic acid (LA), arachidonic acid (AA), alpha- linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are essential to infant growth and development during early life. Up till now, there is only limited number of studies with large sample size on LC-PUFA in breast milk in China. In order to better understand the LC-PUFA levels in Chinese women, we report an analysis that included 44 studies of 3815 subjects from the latest 10-year peer-reviewed papers of breast milk studies of fatty acid profiles from China and other regions: Asia (excluding China), Europe, America and Africa. The results showed that Chinese women had significantly higher LA and ALA levels in the breast milk than European and other Asian women. The DHA level in the breast milk of Chinese women meets the Chinese and international recommended intake for young infants. This review provides comprehensive investigation on the LC-PUFA levels in the mature milk of Chinese women in most recent publications and server as a reference for further studies on human milk in China.

Keywords: Human milk, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, review, China, maternal diet.

Abstract:  Background and Aim: Every year in the world millions of children die from malnutrition and infectious diseases. Children under the age of five are affected more quickly than other age groups from negative conditions. This study is aimed to determine the risk factors of malnutrition and incidence of malnutrition in children aged 1-4 years living in Konya.

Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional epidemiological study. The survey about demographical information about the child and their family, child's nutrition and anthropometric measurements described by both Z-scoring and GOMEZ classification, was conducted between May-December,2016 with 1000 children aged 1-4 years in Konya province. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, student t-test and multivariate logistic regression were performed by SPSS 18.0 considering p<0.05 as statistically significant.

Results:According to the GOMEZ classification, 18.7% of children living in Konya are malnourished. According to Z-score, 3.5% (n=35) of the children were found to be underweight and 7.2% (n=72) were found as stunted. Factors affecting the malnutrition were the age range of children, the working status of the mother, the kinship status between the parents, the number of living children, maternal age, birth weight, the duration of breastfeeding, the time spent on TV/computer, the attitude and anxiety level of the mother when her child does not eat and the mother's nutrition education.

Conclusion: Malnutrition is a common problem and its rate is high in Konya.It is suggested that health professionals should educate the society, especially mothers by organizing various training meetings. Moreover, it can be emphasized that health planners should prepare a program to determine malnourished children considering the risk factors of malnutrition in health screens and first step medical centers. 

Keywords:  Malnourished child, anthropometric measurement.

Download