Breast-feeding and Young Child Nutrition in Uong Bi, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam

This report summarizes a study of breastfeeding and nutrition in the Uong Bi District Vietnam which was carried out in 1984. Mothers stated a strong preference for waiting approximately 36 hours after delivery before breastfeeding. 99% of the mothers were able to breastfeed for at least 6 months breastfeeding being considered essential due to the absence of breast milk substitutes in the Uong Bi area. Weight by age for youngest children is compared to that for a Vietnam reference. Uong Bi children started off close to the 50% reference line and remained there until 5-6 months when the Uong Bi line and that for Vietnam fall off and settle around the 3rd centile. The height for age curve follows a similar pattern and when weight is plotted for height most children fall around the 50th centile suggesting that most are stunted but not wasted. 90% of infants in the study were getting complementary foods by 4 months after birth because: 1) the mother had returned to work; 2) the mother felt she had too little milk; or 3) the infant seemed to want solid food. Feeding during sickness was reported to be normal except during diarrhea. 41% of the children between 6 and 12 months and 25% of those between 13 and 18 months got only rice gruel. Despite generally good breastfeeding habits inadequate feeding of infants between 6 and 18 months of age and poor feeding during diarrhea may partially account for the drop in the weight curve between 6 and 12 months of age.