Showing papers in "Indian Pediatrics in 1974"

Some infant feeding and rearing practices in a rural community in Pondicherry.

Abstract: The feeding and common childrearing practices in a rural area in Pondicherry India are reported. The study was conducted in the village of T. Palayam which is located 14 miles away from the town of Pondicherry. A house to house survey was conducted by doctors and field staff. The village of T. Palayam had a total population of 1823 and consisted of 2 main communities--Reddiars and Harijans. The population of Reddiars was in a better socioeconomic position than Harijans. Also most parents in Reddiars were literate in contrast to Harijans where the majority was illiterate. In both sections the deliveries were at home most of them being attended by untrained persons. In the majority of the cases 92.8% of the Harijans and 93.7% of the Reddiars the 1st feed consisted of water and sugar. In the Harijan community breastfeeding was continued up to 2-3 years and in a few instances up to 4 years. There was no supplementation with cows milk. Among the Reddiars 47% of the babies were receiving artificial milk in the 1st 6 months of life. In 90% of the cases cows milk diluted with an equal proportion of water was used. Solids were started only after the age of 2 years by the Harijans. The infants were then offered rice bread or other foods depending on what was eaten by the rest of the family. In the Reddiar community in 73% of the cases solids were started at the end of the 1st year. The habit of giving oil baths to infants was universally practiced in both of the communities. The earlier cessation of breastfeeding in the Reddiar community had obvious deleterious effects. It is a source of infection and it can lead to malnutrition because of the low nutritive value of the substitute namely diluted milk. Another detrimental food fad was the practice of restriction of the diet during illnesses.

The Meckel syndrome.

Abstract: Meckel syndrome is a disorder with severe signs and symptoms that affect many parts of the body. The most common features are enlarged kidneys with numerous fluid-filled cysts; an occipital encephalocele, which is a sac-like protrusion of the brain through an opening at the back of the skull; and the presence of extra fingers and toes (polydactyly). Most affected individuals also have a buildup of scar tissue (fibrosis) in the liver.

A study of attitudes of practising doctors to infant feeding.

Abstract: The attitudes of 264 practitioners towards infant feeding were studied between January and December 1972. Information was collected by questionnaire technique. Of the 264 respondents 200 were qualified and 50 were interns undergoing training at the local Medical College in Jabalpur India and 14 were licentiates. Most qualified practitioners recommended breast feeding up to 6-24 months. An increasing tendency to recommend breast feeding for shorter periods (6-12 months only) and not exclusively beyond 6 months was apparent among practitioners qualifying more recently i.e. after 1965. The majority of the practitioners recommended that breast feeding be initiated within 12-48 hours after birth but licentiates advocated beginning breast feeding on the 2nd and 3rd days. The majority of practitioners recommended delayed supplementation with milk. Most of them preferred cows milk because of "easy digestibility." Only 1/5 of the qualified practitioners advocated introduction of mixed feeds by the 3rd month of age. Interns stated that breast feeding should be continued up to 12 months not exclusively but supplemented with milk and solid feeds. The majority felt that breast feeding should be started within 6 hours. The advice on feeding and nutrition provided by graduate practicing doctors to patients was unsatisfactory. The feeding advice was based on prevailing cultural practices and tradition and not on sound scientific principles. This was the result of cultural taboos and prejudices rather than a lack of information. There was a marked difference between the attitude of doctors graduating recently and those who graduated before 1966. This seems to be due to the recent emergence of pediatrics as a discipline in medical colleges and therefore of its improved teaching.