World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MATERNAL ZINC INTAKE, NUTRITIONAL STATUS, EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING AND STUNTING IN 6 MONTH OLD INFANTS

*Dr. Saad Tawfeeq Najm and Dr. Ahmed Oraibi Salman

ABSTRACT

Stunting is a form of malnutrition that has an impact on decreased learning achievement, motor, mental and intellectual development. Exclusive breastfeeding is a perfect nutrition for the First 1,000 days of life for normal growth. Maternal nutritional status also plays an important role for the success of breastfeeding whose indicators are measured by the duration of exclusive breastfeeding and the nutritional status of children. Adequacy of zinc is an important micronutrient during the child's growth period to prevent growth failure. The current study aimed to analyze the relationship between maternal zinc intake, nutritional status, exclusive breastfeeding and stunting in 6 month old infants. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Fallujah Teaching Hospital on 90 infants aged 6 months and their mothers. Zinc intake data was obtained by the 24 hours recall. Body mass index was used to obtain data on maternal nutritional status. The stunting data measured by microtoise, and the other information were collected in a questionnaire form. Exclusive breastfeeding (OR=0.53; p=0.192) and maternal zinc intake (OR=0.83; p=0.913) directly decreased the risk of stunting in infants. Maternal BMI indirectly affected the risk of stunting in infants through exclusive breastfeeding (OR=3.28; p=0.006). It can be concluded that exclusive breastfeeding and maternal zinc intake directly decrease the risk of stunting in infants. Maternal BMI (Body Mass Index) indirectly affects the risk of stunting in infants through exclusive breastfeeding.

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