Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices among Lactating Mother in Rural Odisha

Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) defines “Nutrition” as the intake of food considered in relation to the baby’s dietary needs. Children are the chief victim of interchange of the nutrition, socioeconomic and health factors that cause malnutrition. Adequate nutrition during infancy and early childhood is essential to ensure proper growth and development. Research scientific evidence reveals that malnutrition has been responsible directly or indirectly for 60% of mortality among children under five years annually. Over more than half of these deaths is often associated with wrong feeding practices. The Infant and Young child feeding practices during the first 2 years of life is overriding importance as this period is the “critical window” for the promotion of good health, growth, behavioral, and intellectual development. A study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of the lactating mothers regarding IYCF (Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices) in the district of Kendrapara, Odisha.