Essential Interventions for Reducing Malnutrition in Infants and Young Children in India

Essential Interventions for Reducing Malnutrition in Infants and Young Children in India

1. Timely initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth:

Every newborn starts breastfeeding within one hour of birth to take advantage of the newborn’s intense suckling reflex and alert state and to stimulate breast milk production. Good breastfeeding skills- including proper positioning and attachment are established to increase the newborn’s suckling efficiency, mother’s breast milk production, and infant’s breast milk intake.

2. Exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life:

Every infant is exclusively breastfed in the first six months of life. The infant is fed only breast milk and is not given any fluids, milk, or foods, not even water. Exclusive breastfeeding, with frequent, on demand Feedings ensures maximum protection against malnutrition, disease, and death, while contributing to Child spacing and lower fertility rates.

3. Timely introduction of complementary foods at six months:

Every infant starts receiving complementary foods by the beginning of the seventh month of life, while breastfeeding continues until 24 months and beyond. By the beginning of the seventh month of life, breast milk alone cannot meet an infant’s energy and nutrient requirements. At this time complementary feeding should begin. Introducing complementary foods before is both unnecessary and dangerous.

4. Age-appropriate complementary feeding, adequate in terms of quality, quantity and frequency for children 6-24 months:

Every child 6-24 months old is fed age-appropriate, energy and nutrient-dense, diverse complementary foods with increased quantities, nutrient density, and frequency as the child increases in age. Child feeding is responsive and active. Children are given prophylactic iron and folic acid supplements to prevent anemia. Hygienic practices are followed when feeding children.

5. Safe handling of complementary foods and hygienic complementary feeding

practices:

Every child 6-24 months old is fed using safe handling (preparation and storage) and hygienic feeding practices of complementary foods by – among others - washing caregivers’ and children’s hands before food preparation and eating, serving foods immediately after preparation, using clean utensils, and avoiding feeding bottles.

6. Full immunization and bi-annual vitamin A supplementation with deworming: Every child is protected from vaccine preventable diseases through a full course of immunisation delivered through the routine immunisation system at set times in the child’s fi rst year of life. In addition, all children 6-59 months old are further protected from mortality, morbidity, and malnutrition with preventive vitamin A supplementation and deworming twice yearly.

7. Frequent, appropriate, and active feeding for children during and after illness, including oral rehydration with zinc supplementation during diarrhoea:

Every child is fed, actively and frequently, with age-appropriate and nutrient dense foods, during and after illness, while frequent, on demand breastfeeding continues to increase fluid and nutrient intake. Children with diarrhoea also receive appropriate rehydration therapy including a full course of zinc supplements as per national guidelines for the treatment of diarrhoea.

8. Timely and quality therapeutic feeding and care for all children with severe cute

malnutrition:

 Every child with severe acute malnutrition is provided with therapeutic foods and care in a timely manner, for life-saving rapid weight gain and recovery. Care for children with severe acute malnutrition requires early case detection (before the development of medical complications), optimal therapeutic feeding and care protocols, and access to therapeutic foods, including ready-to-use therapeutic foods.

9. Improved food and nutrient intake for adolescent girls particularly to prevent

anaemia:

Every adolescent girl is protected against nutritional deficiencies and anaemia through dietary counseling, weekly iron and folic acid supplementation, twice yearly (six months apart) deworming prophylaxis, and life-skills development to avoid early marriage and early pregnancy.

10. Improved food and nutrient intake for adult women, including during pregnancy and lactation:

Every woman has access to sufficient quality and quantity of food, including during pregnancy and lactation. Every pregnant woman and lactating mother takes iron and folic acid supplements daily to reduce maternal anaemia and improve pregnancy and lactation outcomes. Universal regular consumption of salt with adequate levels of iodine (> 15 ppm) is required, especially for pregnant women, in order to prevent foetal brain damage associated with iodine deficiency