Growing normally in an urban environment: positive deviance among slum children of Vadodara, India.
OBJECTIVE
To assess factors contributing to positive deviance among the urban poor of Vadodara city.


METHODS
Mothers of sixty 6-18 mo old children- 30 each in positive deviant (PD: normal by weight-age) and negative deviant (ND: grade II by weight-age) groups-were interviewed through home visits using semi-structured questionnaires.


RESULTS
Factors contributing significantly to PD (p < 0.01): PD children (vs. ND), were older (12-18 mo vs. 6-11 mo); families were smaller (5-7 vs. >7 members), of lower parity (1-2 vs. 3-4), greater birth interval (>3 y vs. 1-2 y); received colostrum (96% vs. 26%), breastfed at least 8-9 times/d (86% vs. 20%); were started on complementary feeds (CF) at 6-8 mo (53% vs. 23%); given thicker consistency CF (73% vs. 36%); fed actively (40% vs. 23%), fewer had diarrhea episodes in past 15 d (26% vs. 83%). Mean calorie intake (% RDA) from CF among PD was significantly higher than in ND (68% vs.42%).


CONCLUSIONS
Factors contributing to PD in urban poor families are similar to those reported in rural India; which implies that ICDS-Health services for both urban and rural poor need to ensure that national IYCF guidelines-healthcare recommendations are followed by communities. Further research relating PD to desirable complementary feeding and hygiene-healthcare practices in rural and urban areas is required.
Department of Foods and Nutrition, The M.S. University of Baroda, 14, Anupam Society, Jetalpur Road, Near Pizza Inn, Vadodara 390007, India. shubhada.kanani@gmail.com
Shubhada
S
Kanani
Kamal
K
Popat
D000367:Age Factors; D001721:Birth Intervals; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications; D002149:Energy Intake; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010298:Parity; D011204:Poverty Areas; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health