Feeding Practices

Exclusive breastfeeding was significantly associated with better nutritional outcomes. By 3 months, only 8% of infants were exclusively breastfed under the WHO definition. Minimum meal frequency was not significantly associated with nutritional status. Breast milk samples were collected at days 0, 3, 28, and 90 to characterise maternal microbial contributions to infant colonisation. Children who were not exclusively breastfed had significantly higher odds of undernutrition than children with normal nutritional status. Approximately 83% of infants received breast milk as their primary feed, but early water supplementation was common.