Growth patterns and nutrition-related problems of infants under one year attending Red Cross Children's Hospital's antiretroviral clinic and the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices of their caregivers, concerning infant feeding

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: IntroductionA paucity of data exists regarding growth patterns and nutrition-related problems in infants (<12 months) on antiretroviral treatment (ART) and the infant feeding knowledge, beliefs, attitude andpractices of their caregivers.AimTo describe the growth and nutrition-related problems of infants (<12 months) attending theAntiretroviral (ARV) clinic at Red Cross Children's Hospital, as well as the knowledge, attitudes,beliefs and practices of their caregivers concerning infant feeding.MethodsA cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted with census sampling. Thirty infants and 31caregivers were included in the sample.Anthropometric measurements were performed and interviewer-administered questionnaireswere utilised to obtain the knowledge, attitude, beliefs and practices of the caregivers. Themean Z-score of each measurement as well as the weight-for-age, length-for-age, weight-forlengthand bodymass index-for-age for each infant were determined, analysed, interpreted anddescribed according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) growth standards for children.ResultsThirty-nine percent (n=11) of the mothers (n=28) did not receive infant feeding counselling priorto delivery, while only 9 (32%) received the minimum number of at least 4 sessions, asprescribed by the Department of Health. It was not assessed whether the counselling occurredbefore delivery.The mean age of the infants was 6.9 (SD 3.3) months. Eighty-three percent (n=25) had anopportunistic infection prior to data collection. Twenty-three percent (n=7) were underweight-forageand 40% (n=12) of the infants were stunted. Vomiting and diarrhoea were the most common nutrition-related problems experienced. A statistical significant positive correlation(p=0.003) was found between an infant's duration on ART and W/A z-score.Only two caregivers were breastfeeding at the time of data collection, but 34% (n=10) of theother caregivers had at some stage breastfed their infant. Formula feeding practices were poor.Sixty-two percent (n=18) were not preparing the feeds correctly and only six (21%) werecorrectly cleaning and sterilising the bottles. Thirty-nine percent (n=11) of the infants were notreceiving an adequate amount of milk per day. Sixty-five percent (n=11) of the infants (>six months) did not receive a diet the previous day which met the minimum WHO dietary diversityindicator and only 18% (n=3) received a minimum acceptable diet.Caregivers had an average knowledge concerning infant feeding. Thirteen percent (n=4) knewthe correct definition of exclusive breast- or formula feeding. Sixty-eight percent (n=21) did notknow what mixed feeding meant, or the dangers associated with it. Most caregivers (n=25,81%) knew that oral rehydration solution had to be given when infants developed diarrhoea, butonly 48% (n=15) knew how to prepare it and only 6% (n=2) knew how to administer it. Seventy-fivepercent (n=9) of caregivers did not know what should be done when experiencing breastproblems.Sixty-four percent (n=19) of the caregivers believed that if a HIV-positive woman breastfeedsshe would definitely transmit HIV to her infant.ConclusionThe infant sample showed a variety of erratic growth patterns with a high prevalence ofunderweight and stunting. Infant feeding knowledge of caregivers was average, but not deemedsufficient to translate into appropriate, safe and optimal infant feeding practices. Thebreastfeeding prevalence was low. Formula preparation, feeding and hygiene practices werepoor and dietary intake of infants was not optimal. The quality and quantity of HIV infant feedingcounselling sessions received at antenatal clinic visits were poor and need to be addressed.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University