Growth in the first year in children following IAP Policy on Infant Feeding
Tripathy, R.; Das, R.N.; Das, M.M.; Parija, A.C.
Indian Pediatrics 37(10): 1051-1059
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-6061 PMID: 11042703 Document Number: 523179
The growth pattern in the first year in children fed according to recommendations of Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) Policy on Infant Feeding was examined at the Department of Pediatrics, S.C.B. Medical College Hospital, Cuttack, Orissa, India in a longitudinal study. 114 infants (68 boys and 46 girls) with birth weight >=2500 g from upper and middle S-E status were regularly followed up from birth to 12 months of age and fed according to recommendations of IAP Policy on Infant Feeding. Mean and standard deviations of weight for age (W/A) and length for age (L/A) and mean Z-scores for W/A, L/A and W/L (weight for length) were calculated separately for boys and girls with reference to NCHS-WHO and 12 month Breast Fed Pooled Data Set (BFDS) data. Mean Z-scores for W/A with reference to NCHS-WHO data showed a positive trend from birth up to the age of 3-4 months, subsequently declining up to one year. The Z-scores for L/A showed only a minimal downward trend. The W/L Z-score remained above the baseline value up to 3 months in boys and 7 months in girls. When BFDS was taken as the reference, W/A Z scores showed consistent positive increments, from birth in girls and 1 month in boys. L/A Z scores increased from 3 months in boys and 11 months in girls. Using NCHS data as the reference, the percentage of infants below -2SD for weight was 0-7% during first 6 months and 14% at 12 months. Ten per cent were below -2SD for length at 12 months. With BFDS as the reference, the percentage of infants below-2SD for weight was 25% at birth, 5% at 6 months and 12% at 1 year. For length, it was 12% at birth and 8% at 1 year. The increments in weight and length closely followed BFDS up to 12 months of age. It is concluded that the IAP Policy on Infant Feeding results in adequate growth of non low birth weight infants in the first year of life.