Feeding pattern, supplementary foods and growth of low birthweight and normal birthweight infants in Machakos, Kenya.

Feeding pattern food consumption and growth in weight were assessed for 168 low-birthweight and 187 normal birthweight infants in Machakos district Kenya an agricultural region 80 km East of Nairobi between September 1977-December 1980. Birthweight was defined as the weight taken within 48 hours after birth and the old WHO cutoff point of 2500 g or less was used to define low birthweight. It was planned to measure the infants weight and food intake at 6-week inttervals during the 1st year; however the number of measurements per infant ranged from 1 to 9. No differences were found in the breastfeeding pattern or the type of supplementary foods given to low birth weight (LBW) and normal birth weight (NBW) infants. At 6 weeks 60% of the infants were exclusively breastfed. The number decreased over time but only 1.7% were completely weaned before 52 weeks. At 5-6 months and 10-12 months the energy intake from supplementary foods was 225 and 450 kcal (950 and 1900 kJ) respectively; at the same ages daily protein intake was 9 and 14 g respectively. Yet both groups followed their own growth channel maintaining the difference in weight observed at birth. It is assumed therefore that LBW infants had a lower breast milk intake than NBW infants as yield is influenced by vigor of suckeling and the nutritional status of the mother. No data is available for breast milk intake. However in Machakos LBW does carry a high mortality risk.