ASSESSMENT OF THE PREVALENT FEEDING AND HYGIENIC PRACTICES OF RURAL AND URBAN AREAS OF BIHAR AND THEIR OUTCOME IN CHILDREN BELOW 5 YEARS

Abstract

Mothers should have access to skilled support to help them initiate and sustain appropriate feeding practices, and to prevent difficulties and overcome them when they occur. Actual aim of this study was a step to sort out various prevailing feeding practices and awareness status of the hygiene in the family of child in rural and urban areas of Bihar state among the age group of below 5 Years and their outcome. The aim of this work was to determine the association between household access to water, sanitation and personal hygiene practices with stunting among children. In this study, the observation was contrary to what was observed in the NFHS3. Urban area appeared better in all the aspects of breast feeding than rural area. However, breast feeding practices were still suboptimal in both the areas. This study reveals the similar pattern but magnitude is different Exclusive breastfeeding up to the age of six months is only 25% and 18% in urban and rural region respectively average is 21%.our study revealed exclusive breast feeding for 6 months Populations  had significantly low prevalence of underweight (18%), stunting (1%)  wasting (15%) and as expected against complementary food given before 6 months underweight (67%), stunting (57%). wasting (54%) and late after 6months group showed underweight (67%), stunting  (63%).and wasting (41%). As per NFHS3 36 percent are given food from at least 3 food groups (variety of food), as recommended to ensure adequate diversity in their diet. ACCORDING TO WHO 2012 In India, approximately 53% of households and 624 million people defecate in the open. Open defecation is more pervasive in rural versus urban areas (74% vs 17%).as per recent reports 2015 69%vs 19%  Open defecation is more pervasive in rural versus urban areas.  In Our study (68%Vs43%). that both urban and rural population group in which use latrine for defecation has significantly better outcome than the group in which use open field defecation. This project will support the government's efforts to promote the exclusive breastfeeding, and healthy feeding practices for infant and children aged under 5 years, as well as to bring improvement in personal hygiene.

Keywords: Breast feeding, Hygienic conditions, healthy feeding practice, WHO, UNICEF