Feeding practices of infants and children in rural and urban areas of Himachal Pradesh.

Feeding practices in rural and urban areas of Himachal Pradesh were studied. Almost all children were given breastfeeding and administration of colostrom was not considered harmful for the childs health. The supplementary foods were diluted and urban women tended to introduce supplementary milk feeds earlier than rural women. The feeding bottles were often not properly sterilized. 52% urban and 37% rural children started receiving semisolids/solids during infancy. The rural women practiced more prolonged breastfeeding as compared to their urban counterparts and many rural mothers continued breastfeeding beyond 2 years. Majority of women both from rural and urban areas believed in hot and cold foods and wanted to impose restrictions on the type and quantity of the food of children suffering from diarrhea or respiratory infections for varying periods. (authors modified)