OBJECTIVETo investigate optimistic factors affecting nutrition status of infants under 3-year-old in rural areas of western China.

METHODSThe data used in this study came from a cross-sectional survey on primary health and maternal and child health care in western rural China. The method of stratified multistage cluster random sampling was used to obtain the sample of children. Composite index of anthropometric failure (CIAF) was used to classify the infants with normal nutrition or malnutrition. Logistic regression model was employed to investigate optimistic factors effecting nutrition of infants from 3 levels as family, mother and children themselves.

RESULTS14,532 qualified infants were obtained, 57.4% of them were boys. According to CIAF, 72.1% of children were found in normal nutritional status. Prevalence of malnutrition was 27.9% and 10.3% of children were both underweighted and retarded in growth. The result showed the children with better nutrition were from such families with high income, fathers with higher education and fewer children. Higher education for mothers and breastfeeding were optimistic factors effecting nutrition of infants under 6-month after family factors being controlled for. For children over 6 months old, the optimistic factors were heavy mother body weight and more education acquired, exclusive breast feeding within 4-month, introduction of foods containing more protein.

CONCLUSIONFamily factors strongly influence nutritional status of rural children. Improving mothers'education and adding protein intake for children older than 6 months make their nutrition status better.

Child, Preschool ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Growth Disorders ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Nutritional Status ; ethnology ; Rural Population

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated complementary feeding practices among four ethnic groups (Han, Uygur, Tibetan, and Zhuang) based on a cross-sectional survey in rural western China. METHODS: In 2005, a stratified multistage cluster random sampling method was used to recruit 9712 children (7411 Han, 1032 Uygur, 678 Tibetan, and 591 Zhuang) between 6 and 35 months of age and their mothers from 45 counties in 10 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) in western China. RESULTS: The rates of early introduction (before 6 months) of complementary foods in four ethnic groups (Han, Uygur, Tibetan, and Zhuang) were 71.30%, 95.95%, 82.40%, and 72.30%, respectively. The Infant and Child Feeding Index (ICFI) for Uygur and Tibetan children was lower than that for Han children at all age groups. Uygur children were more likely to have unqualified ICFI compared with Han children in a multivariate logistic regression (odds ratio (OR)=5.138, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.340-6.084). A higher level of maternal education, greater family wealth, and the availability of complementary feeding educational materials decreased the likelihood of an unqualified ICFI. The nutritional status of children (Han, Tibetan, and Zhuang) with qualified ICFI was better than that for children with unqualified ICFI. CONCLUSIONS Appropriate interventions are required to improve complementary feeding practices in rural western China.
Adult ; Asian People ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Cluster Analysis ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Educational Status ; Ethnicity ; Feeding Behavior/ethnology* ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena/ethnology* ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nutritional Status ; Odds Ratio ; Rural Population ; Social Class ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult