Nutritional status of tribal underfive children in Ahmadnagar District, Maharashtra in relation to weaning/feeding practices.

Prevalence of malnutrition and its relation with feeding practices was studied in 605 tribal underfive children. There was a significant relation of nutritional status of preschool children to feeding practices. Exclusive breast-feeding was beneficial only upto 6 months age. After this age, it lost its advantage. Children above one year age exclusively fed on breast had a high prevalence of malnutrition. No other factor, like sex of the child, parental literacy, past history of illnesses had any significant effect. Health education messages should stress on importance of timely weaning with introduction of solid foods by 6 to 9 months of age; to address the widespread problem of malnutrition in underfive children.