Knowledge, attitude and practices of various feeding practices among the mothers and caregivers of infants aged 0-12 months in the Northeastern State of Nagaland, India

Background: This study was undertaken to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of various feeding practices of mothers and caregivers of infants aged 0-12 months in the Northeastern state of Nagaland, India. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2022 to March 2022. A total of 210 mothers and caregivers of infants aged 0-12 months from the Mon district of Nagaland were enrolled in the study. A standardised pre-tested questionnaire consisting of relevant questions on the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the mothers and caregivers regarding various feeding practices, and the most preferred homemade complementary foods provided to the infants was used. All the data collected via different parameters were statistically analysed, and the results obtained were tabulated. Results: The results showed that out of the 210 respondents, 97.14% were mothers, and 2.86% were fathers who were either divorced or widowers and were the sole caretakers of the infants. The KAP questionnaire showed that the respondents' overall knowledge about breastfeeding and various complementary feeding practices was poor (54.0%), their overall attitude was good (38.10%), and their overall practice regarding breastfeeding and various complementary feeding practices was average (60.95%). The study also showed that rice kanji was the most preferred complementary food being used in Nagaland, and semolina porridge was the least favored item (1.90%). Conclusion: This study showed that proper knowledge and socio-demographic profile of mothers and caregivers play an important role in choosing the right complementary foods, determining the time of initiation and following the rightful practices of complementary feeding in infants with the right attitude.