Dangers of artificial feeding on infant growth age group 6-24 weeks in Kabul, Afghanistan
Student name: Ms Nasima Omari
Guide: Dr Papiya Guha Mazumdar
Year of completion: 2015
Host Organisation: Public Nutrition Department, Ministry of Public Health and Women's Capacity Building and Development
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Dr M. Homayoun Ludin
Abstract: A hospital based exploratory control study was undertaken in hospitals of in
Maiwand Hospital, French Hospital and Ataturk Hospital and Indira Gandhi
Children’s hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. This research aimed to find the risk
associated with artificial feeding and infant growth and compare their
difference and similarities. The study subjected 64 out patients and their
mothers were interviewed.32 cases were randomly selected from
malnourished infants and 32 controls selected from non- malnourished
patients age group (6-24) weeks. The information about infants feeding was
obtained by questionnaires during interview with mothers.
Information about Height, weight and age of infants were taken from files of
malnourished infants of Malnutrition departments and OPD of Hospitals.
The research documents discusses about guidelines and benefits of breast
feeding and explores the risk of artificial feeding on infant growth aged 6-24
weeks in Kabul .The finding of research shows malnutrition occurred 28.1 % in
‘ age group 6-12, 25% in age group 13-18 and 46.9 % within age group 14-24.
Height for Age z-score of cases reflected 6.3 % of infants was stunted, 87.5 %
was severely stunted while 18.8% of control was stunted and 15.6 % were
severely stunted. Weight of Age 56.2 % of cases and 15.6 % of control were
severely wasted. The report conclude with recommendation about better
health care services , improvement and implementation of nutritional policies,
managing awareness raising radio campaigns thorough local government
about dangers of Artificial feeding during first 6 month of infant life.
Key words: Malnourishment, Z-Scores (Weight for Age, Height for Age, Weight
for Height) Malnutrition, Breast feeding, formula Feeding, Infant Growth,
Maternal He
