Abstract
BACKGROUND: Optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices are crucial for children's health and survival, protecting against diarrhea and acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI). Despite strong evidence, breastfeeding and complementary feeding rates remain low. This study aimed to assess IYCF practices among mothers and identify associated morbidities in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 mothers of children aged 0-24 months at the Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences, using convenience sampling over 2 months (October-November 2023). Data were collected via a pretested semi-structured questionnaire based on WHO IYCF indicators and analyzed using SPSS software version 20. RESULTS: The study found that 57.75% of mothers initiated breastfeeding within the first hour of delivery, and 49% practiced exclusive breastfeeding for infants aged 0-6 months. However, only 28.6% met minimum dietary diversity (MDD), 13.2% met minimum meal frequency, and 13.2% achieved a minimum acceptable diet. Exclusive breastfeeding was significantly associated with lower incidence of diarrhea (P ≤ 0.0001) and ARTIs (P < 0.0001). Bottle feeding was linked to higher rates of diarrhea (P = 0.002) and ARTIs (P = 0.04). Diarrhea was also significantly associated with inadequate dietary diversity (P = 0.02) and sweetened beverage intake (P = 0.0002). CONCLUSION: The findings highlight the link between inadequate feeding practices and increased risk of diarrhea and respiratory infections. Immediate interventions, including health worker training and community nutrition programs, are essential to enhance maternal knowledge and improve infant feeding practices, ultimately reducing childhood illnesses.