Association between feeding practices in the first six months of life and undernutrition in children at the age of one year in the Rey City food-secure and food-insecure households

Malnutrition in early months of life has many undesirable consequenses; feeding practices and food security are two important factors related to this problem. This study aimed to find association between infant feeding practices in the first six months after birth and nutritional status at the age of one year، in food secure and food insecure households. This case-control study was conducted on 160 one-year old children in 2011. Data on food security and feeding practices were gathered using the 18-item USDA and a feeding-practices questionaire، respectively، through interviewing mothers consulting the Rey urban health centers. Taking any food before breast milk after birth، consumption of semi-solid foods، and breasfeeding not being the predominant feeding practice in the first six months were significantly associated with malnutrition in food-insecure households (p<0. 05). None of the three variables were found to be associated with the nutrition status of children in food-secure households. Feeding practices in the first six months of life play an important role in the nutritional health of children in food-insecure households، who are، thus، more vulnarabale than children in food-secure households. These findings emphasize، one more، the importance and neccesity of propmoting child feeding practices in food-insecure households.