| Abstract [eng] |
The nutritional status of infants and children in their second year has been researched in a complex manner for the first time in Lithuania. It was performed by using two questionnaires and by assessing a physical growth of children by relating with nutrition indicators of infants and children in their second year. The aim of this study is to assess the nutritional status of infants and children in their second year in the City of Vilnius, and the relationship of breastfeeding duration, introduction of solid, semi-solid or soft foods, dietary diversity, acceptable diet with age, physical health condition of children, age, education of mothers, financial situation of family and experience in bringing up the children. Survey was conducted in public institution of the city of Vilnius “Šeškinė Outpatient Clinic” during the period of October, 2011 – March, 2013. The actual group of subjects included 878 women and their children of 6–23 months of age. More than two thirds (72,2 percent) of women began breastfeeding within first hour after birth; 48,2 percent of respondents exclusively breastfeed the infants under 6 months; one third of subjects breastfeed their child at one year, while 7,0 percent – at two year-old. The average duration of breastfeeding was almost 8 months. Almost all mothers introduced solid, semi-solid or soft foods not earlier than in 17th week.; a suitable dietary diversity was ensured for 94,0 percent of children; a right meal frequency a day in case of breastfed infants of 6–23 months of age accounted for 95,7 percent, while in case of non-breastfed children – 82,7 percent; Acceptable diet was applied to 83,6 percent of children. It was determined that a late put of newborn to the breast was determined by health problems of mother during pregnancy, Caesarean section surgery and prematurity of infants; more frequent exceptional breastfeeding under 6 months, breastfeeding at one or two year-old was determined by older age of mothers, higher education and life in marriage; Introduction of solid, semi-solid or soft foods was determined by experience in bringing up two and more children; a positive impact on dietary diversity was had by age of children (12 and more months) and higher family income, while the factors as older age of mothers, higher education and age of children (9 and more months) determined acceptable diet. The most important factors, which influenced a harmonious physical growth of children up to 18 months, were maturity of newborn and exceptional breastfeeding under 6 months. It was determined than longer duration of breastfeeding was related with lower incidence of children’s respiratory diseases during the first and second year of life. |
