Feeding practices, nutritional status and mortality in pre-school children in rural East Java, Indonesia.

In an effort to assess the geographical prevalence magnitude and severity of nutritional deficiencies particularly among mothers and children 2 nutrition surveys were conducted in 9 regencies of the province of East Java Indonesia in the dry season of 1975 and 1976. A total sample of 2117 mothers with children of 0-4 years of age were examined and interviewed. They had 2339 children in the mentioned age group. Childfeeding practices nutritional status of pre-school children and child mortality are reported. Breastfeeding is commonly practiced for a prolonged period in the rural areas. In the regencies along the south and north coast of East Java 90% respectively 94% of the children aged 19-24 months were still breastfed; in Sidoarjo a relative "surplus" area the figure was 73% and 51% on the island of Madura. In the 25-47 month age-group 34% were still nursed in Blitar-Treggalek regency 54% in Tuban-Lamongan 23% in Sidoarjo and 15% in Madura. The role of powdered milk as a competitor of breastfeeding is minor in these rural areas. 9% of the pregnant women still nursed their youngest child. Supplementary food was introduced in the 1st week but was insufficient to maintain adequate growth after the age of 6 months. According to weight-for-age severe malnutrition was diagnosed in respectively 1% 4% and 10% of age-groups 0-5 months 6-11 months and 1-3 years. Lack of calories seems to be more influential then the deficit in protein. Age-specific mortality according to age at death was about 21% in the perinatal and 16% in the neonatal period; from 1-11 months (inclusive) it was 31% from 1.5 years 19% and 8% until age 12.