Summary
Feeding habits and child rearing customs are analysed in this study conducted in South India. Sugar in water was found to be a common initial prelacteal ieed in the majority of infants. Breast feeding was delayed beyond 48 hours in most of the in fants. The incidence of breast feeding was 10% at 24 months. Demand feeding was the commonest pattern for breast feeding. It was observed that the duration of breast feeding bore a definite inverse relationship to the education of the mother and economic status of the parents.Idly formed the commonest initial solid food. An attempt was made to find out the various child rearing practices and food fads in this part of the country. It is postulated that such food fads and an erroneous knowledge of the nutritive values of various diets are the main causes of high infant mortality and morbidity in South India. The community at large needs proper and correct health and nutrition education which is lacking in the present day health programme.
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From the Department of Paediatrics, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry 605 006.
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Puri, R.K., Khanna, K.K., Kumar, G.A. et al. Infant feeding and child rearing methods in Pondicherry, South India. Indian J. Pediat. 43, 323 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03177151
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03177151