Feeding Practices and Risk of Prolonged Diarrhoea Among Infants Presenting with Acute Diarrhoea: A Cross-Sectional Study at Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69723/njms.05.01.0670Keywords:
infant feeding, breastfeeding, diarrhoea, acute diarrhoea, prolonged diarrheal symptomsAbstract
BACKGROUND: Suboptimal infant feeding practices adopted by caregivers are important contributors to infectious diseases, including diarrhoeal illnesses, among infants in low- and middle-income countries.
OBJECTIVE: To describe feeding practices among infants presenting with diarrhoeal symptoms and examine their association with household hygiene practices and the risk of prolonged diarrhoea.
METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2024 to June 2025 in the Department of Paediatrics at Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar. A total of 161 infants presenting with diarrhoeal symptoms were enrolled. Data were collected from primary caregivers using a structured questionnaire assessing feeding practices and household hygiene conditions. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 27. Associations between feeding practices and prolonged diarrhoea (>7 days) were examined using chi-square tests and binary logistic regression. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.
RESULTS: The mean age of the infants was 6.73 ± 3.27 months; 53.4% were female and 46.6% were male. Among the participants, 55.9% had diarrhoeal symptoms lasting <7 days, while 44.1% experienced symptom prolonged symptoms (>7 days)s (>7 days). Infants younger than six months showed significantly higher rates of prolonged diarrhoea (p < 0.001). Risk factors associated with prolonged diarrhoea included formula feeding (OR = 2.37; 95% CI: 1.31–3.14), consumption of home-cooked food or cow’s milk (OR = 4.02; 95% CI: 2.17–7.08), and lack of vaccination (OR = 2.05; 95% CI: 1.30–3.20). Protective factors included current breastfeeding (OR = 0.05; 95% CI: 0.01–0.26) and bottle feeding (OR = 0.11; 95% CI: 0.02–0.42). Additional significant factors included non-exclusive breastfeeding, unimproved household water sources, feeding unwashed or uncooked food, use of unwashed feeding utensils, and feeding stored food (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Community-based education for caregivers, especially mothers, on feeding practices, combined with improved access to safe water and sanitation, is essential to prevent diarrhoea and its complications in Peshawar and comparable settings in Pakistan.
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