Assessing Child Feeding Practices Among Parents of Hospitalized Children and Their Associated Factors in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bhubaneswar, India: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Background Parental feeding practices play a vital role in determining the nutritional status and well-being of children, especially during hospitalization. Various factors, including socio-demographic characteristics, hospital environment, and child-specific conditions, influence feeding practices. This study aimed to assess child feeding practices among parents of hospitalized children and identify the associated factors in a tertiary care hospital in Bhubaneswar, India. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 380 parents of hospitalized children aged 12-36 months. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule and a feeding practices rating scale. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21 (Released 2012; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States), applying descriptive and inferential statistics, including chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis. Results The study findings revealed that 219 (57.6%) of parents had unsatisfactory feeding practices, while 161 (42.4%) exhibited satisfactory feeding practices. Key factors associated with feeding practices included: physical limitations or difficulties with eating; the child's appetite in the hospital; feeding challenges such as refusal, gagging, and vomiting; hospital environment; and feeding management during medical procedures and eating behavior. Additionally, a significant association was found between feeding practices and the current weight of the child and socioeconomic status. Logistic regression analysis revealed that three significant factors were associated with feeding practices among hospitalized children: the children's current weight (odds ratio (OR) = 2.935, P < 0.001), socioeconomic condition (OR = 2.476, P = 0.009), and feeding management during medical procedure (OR = 0.135, P < 0.001). Conclusion Based on the present study, the following conclusions can be made that more caregivers had unsatisfactory feeding practices because the children had various kinds of illness, an unfamiliar hospital environment, physical limitations, and difficulties with eating. Moreover, a significant association was found between the child's weight, socioeconomic conditions, and feeding management during the medical procedure with feeding practices.