Nutricia India scientifically substantiated its initial assessment of India’s nutritional status through Nutriplanet, with the focus on children (0-5 years) and pregnant and lactating women. Following are the key Insights:
Nutrition Status of the mothers
Adolescent girls and Women are malnourished
- More than 50% of child bearing age women are malnourished
- India has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality rates
There exists high prevalence of nutrient deficiencies resulting in health issues during pregnancy and lactation
- 50%-90% of iron deficiency anemia is seen throughout the country
- Folate and B12 deficiencies in pregnant women have been reported, and are likely to affect pregnancy outcomes.
- Vitamin D deficiency is also emerging as a common nutritional deficiency in pregnant women
Influence of Maternal Nutrition Status on Pregnancy outcomes
- Key nutrient deficiencies adversely affect health & nutritional status of the baby
- Summary:
- Women begin their pregnancy with a poor nutrition status that is continued during their pregnancy
- Children born of undernourished mothers are more likely to be undernourished themselves
Nutrition status of infant and young child
There is an adverse impact of maternal nutrition during pregnancy on Nutritional Status of baby
- Highest prevalence of Low Birth Weight (28%) in India.
- LBW prevalence is observed between both urban and rural class.
Underweight & Stunting is of concern
- A key consequence of being born low birth weight.
- Under nutrition is a concern for the whole population, even among the highest socio economic class.
- Stunting and underweight rates increase dramatically from 6 months to 2 years when breast milk is being introduced with complementary foods. This is the period when the damage being done may be irreversible.
Insufficient practice of exclusive breast-feeding ; despite a high initiation
- 85% of mothers initiate breast-feeding within the first 72 hours of birth.
- However, the level of exclusive breastfeeding rapidly drops from birth to 6 months of age
Inappropriate Complementary Feeding Practices ; with early introduction of cow’s milk
- Instead of breast milk, animal milk (cow + buffalo) consumption is more widespread.
- Home made foods & animal milks (cow + buffalo) continue to dominate the diet of infant 6 to 12 months of age, and seen across all socio economic classes.
As per the National Guidelines on Infant and Young Child Feeding (2006), breastfeeding should be initiated within one hour of birth and exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life. No other food or fluids should be given to infants below six months unless medically indicated. After completion of 6 months of age, with introduction of optimal complementary feeding, breastfeeding should be continued for a minimum of 2 years and beyond depending on the choice of the mother and the baby. In India, the appropriate IYCF practices are much below the optimum.
Summary:
The current feeding practices are much below recommendations and do not meet infant’s nutritional requirements
