Breastfeeding practices and their association with anemia in children aged 6 to 60 months

Abstract

Background: Anemia remains a prevalent nutritional disorder among young
children in India, significantly affecting growth and development. Breastfeeding
practices, particularly exclusive breastfeeding and timely complementary feeding,
are known to influence a child’s nutritional status. This study aimed to evaluate the
association between breastfeeding practices and the occurrence of anemia in children
aged 6 to 60 months.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Pediatrics,
Sree Mookambika Institute of Medical Sciences, Kulasekaram, Tamil Nadu, from
January 2024 to December 2024. A total of 120 children aged 6–60 months attending
the pediatric outpatient department were enrolled after obtaining informed consent.
Data on socio-demographic details and feeding practices were collected through a
structured questionnaire. Hemoglobin levels were measured using Sahli’s method
and anemia was classified as per WHO guidelines. Statistical analysis was performed
using SPSS version 25, with p < 0.05 considered significant.
Results: The prevalence of anemia in the study population was 75%, with moderate
anemia being most common (45.8%). Only 58.3% of children had been exclusively
breastfed for the first six months. A statistically significant association was found
between lack of exclusive breastfeeding and anemia (p = 0.004). Children who had
delayed initiation of complementary feeding also showed a higher prevalence of
anemia.
Conclusion: Suboptimal breastfeeding and delayed complementary feeding are
major contributors to anemia in early childhood. Promotion of exclusive
breastfeeding for six months and appropriate infant feeding practices is crucial for
preventing anemia in this age group.