Background: During 2006-10, more than 16 per cent of the world’s children under the age of 5 years were underweight for their age. The proportion ranged from 1.0 per cent of children in developed countries to 25 per cent in developing countries. In India, the national family health survey (NFHS) 2005-06 included survey of the nutritional status of young children. Both chronic and acute under nutrition were found to be high in all 7 states for which reports have been received, namely, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Goa. Poverty, unsanitary conditions, lack of education and poor rearing practices are some of the major contributory factors. Optimal infant and young child feeding mean that mothers should start to breastfeed within half an hour of birth and continue exclusively for the first six months till two years, together with nutritionally adequate, safe and age appropriate complementary feeding. Improving infant and young child feeding practices in children 0-23 months of age is critical to improved nutrition, health and development of children. One of the ways to effectively reduce the growing under-five mortality rate is the timely introduction of complementary feeding. Objectives: To determine various weaning practices in Raichur. To determine the effect of weaning on growth. To determine the effect of weaning on various systemic illnesses. To determine effect of weaning on nutritional status of children. Methodology: It is a prospective study comparing the various weaning practices and their effect on growth of the children of age 6 months to 2 years visiting pediatric OPD in Navodaya medical college hospital during the period of November 2014 to December 2015. A total of 300 children were included in the study by simple random sampling. The need for the study has been explained to the parents and prior consent has been taken. Ethical committee clearance has been obtained before performing the study. A detailed history taking with a pre-structured questionnaire on feeding habits of children has been taken. Anthrapometric parameters such as height, weight and mid arm circumference have been measured for all the children to determine the growth parameters in children based on the weaning practices. Complete Systemic examination has been performed to rule out any systemic illness. Investigations such as a complete blood examination, urine examination, stool examination and chest x-ray to rule out systemic infections associated with malnutrition. Results: It is found that the prevalence of malnutrition and systemic illness were more in 12months to 24 months when compared to younger age group. The growth parameters are hindered more in the elder age group when compared to younger age group. Coming to weaning practices the most common feeds were annaganji and jowahar roti in younger age group and elder age group respectively. Most of the children of the younger age group are still being breast fed frequently compared to the older age group. Interpretation and Conclusion: As discussed earlier weaning is not new to India, as the history suggests that there was literature regarding weaning since the times of Charaka; Shrushutha and Kashyapa which advice exclusive breast feeding for first 6 months and complimentary feeding from 6 months with continuation of breast feeds up to 2 years. Our study shows that there is high prevalence of under nutrition and childhood illness in children of age group 12 to 24 months as compared to children of age 12 to 24 months. As age increases energy density of breastfeeds decreases and frequency of breastfeeding decreases and the nutrition is mainly from the weaned foods. Hence, in a setting of inadequate weaning the prevalence of malnutrition and childhood illnesses increase with age.

Keywords: Weaning; Malnutrition; Breastfeeding; Nutrition; Complementary Feeding; Anthrapometry; Childhood Illness.