<p> Proper nutrition during early life is imperative for growth and development. Furthermore, infant growth is measured with CDC or WHO standards, as a static or change (longitudinal) outcome. There is a need to define optimal growth in relation to feeding practices, especially in diverse samples. The purpose of this study is to determine the association between infant feeding practices (breastfeeding, formula, mixed feeding (both formula and breastmilk) and complementary foods) in infants aged six months or less using the modified Infant Feeding Practices Study II (mIFPS II) questionnaire and indicators of growth (i.e. weight-for-age, weight-for-length and head circumference zscores/percentiles) in the same infants up to 12 months of age using WHO growth charts.</p><p> The validated mIFPS II questionnaire was administered to 247 caretakers of infants between 28 days and six months of age in a pediatric outpatient clinic located in Chicago, IL. At least two time points for growth data were collected for 149 of the 247 infants surveyed. We examined demographic correlates of infant feeding practices in relation to WHO growth indicators using chi-square and Kruskal Wallis tests with SPSS, version 23 (IBM, Chicago, IL). Weight status was categorized according to WHO growth chart standards using weight-for-length z-scores. Additionally, rapid weight gain was defined as a change in weight-for-age z-score of ≥0.67 between birth and six months of age. Logistic regression using rapid weight gain was conducted with feeding practice as the predictor and additional demographic covariates.</p><p> The largest proportion of our 149 caretakers was African American (37%), with 46% having a college degree of above and 48% being enrolled in WIC. Of the infants, 32% were formula fed, 18% were breastfed, 25% were mixed fed and 25% were complementary fed. Feeding practices were associated with caretaker race-ethnicity, caretaker education level and WIC enrollment. Nearly 40% of infants demonstrated rapid weight gain by 6 months with weight gain being significantly less among exclusively breastfed infants as compared to mixed fed infants. Those who were complementary fed were almost five times more likely to have rapid weight gain than those breastfed exclusively.</p><p> Our findings suggest that various demographic correlates are associated with feeding practices. Exclusive breastfeeding may have a protective effect on obesity. However, more growth data are needed to adequately characterize correlates of infant growth perfoililance in this diverse sample. Accrual of caretaker/infant dyads are ongoing.</p><p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PROQUEST/oai:pqdtoai.proquest.com:10647606 |
| Date | 24 August 2017 |
| Creators | Shinn, Leila Marie |
| Publisher | Rush University |
| Source Sets | ProQuest.com |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
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