Zambia Demographic and Health Survey 2001-2002 - Measure DHS

INFANT FEEDING, NUTRITIONAL PRACTICES,AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS AMONG YOUNGCHILDREN AND WOMEN11Bornwell Sikateyo, Agnes Mugala Aongola, and Arlinda ZhuzhuniMalnutrition plays an important role in the health and welfare of children and women in Zambia.Poor nutrition results in morbidity, mortality, poor education. and fewer opportunities for economicdevelopment. Poor education, low socio-economic status, and high fertility are factors that may influencethe nutritional status of an individual and thus the development of the nation. In Zambia, children underfive years and women of reproductive age are the most vulnerable. Economic evidence also suggests thatlife expectancy is directly related to poverty and nutrition (Sachs, 1999). Adequate food and soundnutrition are essential to good health. They are crucial not only for human survival, but also for preventionof and recovery from illness.The 2001-2002 ZDHS collected data from respondents in order to evaluate the nutritional statusof women and young children. For infants and young children, this included information on breastfeedingand complementary feeding. For the micronutrients iron, vitamin A, and iodine, information wascollected on intake levels from supplementation and food. Anthropometric measurements (height andweight) were taken for women 15-49 years and children under age 5 to determine their nutritional status.11.1 BREASTFEEDINGAppropriate feeding practices are of fundamental importance for the survival, growth,development, health and nutrition of infants and children and for the well-being of mothers. Feedingpractises are one of the underlying determinants of children’s nutritional status, which in turn influencethe risk of illness and ultimately death. Breastfeeding benefits depend on the length of time a child isbreastfed, and the frequency and intensity of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding also affects the mother in otherways. The physiological suppression of fertility as a result of intensive breastfeeding influences thelength of the interval between pregnancies.11.1.1 Initiation of BreastfeedingBreastfeeding is sufficient and beneficial for infant nutrition in the first six months of life. Earlyinitiation of breastfeeding (breastfeeding within one hour) facilitates the newborn’s innate sucking reflex,which helps to stimulate breast milk production and provides all of the nutritional requirements of ayoung infant (Righard and Alade, 1990). The high concentration of antibodies in colostrum 1 protects thechild from infection before the child’s immune system has matured. Early initiation also encourages thebond between mother and baby and helps to maintain the baby’s body temperature. Breastfeeding alsohelps the uterus to retract, hence reducing postpartum blood loss of the mother. Prelacteal feeding (givingsomething other than breast milk in the first three days of life) is discouraged since it may inhibitbreastfeeding and expose the newborn infant to illness.The data presented in Table 11.1 show the percentage of children who were ever breastfed andamong children ever breastfed, the proportion who started breastfeeding within one hour and within oneday of birth and those who received a prelacteal feed. The data indicate that almost all (98 percent)Zambian children are breastfed for some period of time, the same level that was reported in 1996. More1 First yellowish highly nutritious milk that is present right after deliveryNutrition among Children and Women │ 163