title: Factors associated with morbidities among infants in three sub centre areas of belgaum district of South India: a longitudinal study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health status of infants is a sensitive indicator of development and factors influencing it need to be better understood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to search for factors associated with morbidity among infants and to find out their influence on weight gain during infancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This longitudinal study was undertaken in south India from November 2004 till April 2006. A birth cohort of all children born during first 6 months of the study period were assessed at enrollment and followed up monthly till they attained 1 year of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incidence of morbidity among infants was found to be least among those exclusively breast fed (EBF) for 6 months and most when EBF for less than 6 months (P = 0.045). It was also more when infants were weaned with a combination of animal milk, formula milk, semi-solids and solid diet and least when weaned only with semi-solids and solids (P = 0.018). Diarrheal episodes were more in infants who were bottle-fed (P < 0.001). Weight gain between 6(th) and 12(th) month of infancy was found to be significantly affected by various morbidities (P = 0.001). Incidence of morbidities was less among preterm babies and more among partially immunized (P < 0.001) babies with birth order ≥ 3 (P = 0.012), babies of mothers with low socio-economic and educational status. Delayed milestones during infancy was seen more in babies with history of birth asphyxia (P = 0.018).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several factors influenced incidence of morbidities and these morbidities had a negative effect on weight gain. Hence these factors need to be addressed to promote better child health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, India.
authors.forename: Nitin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Vijaya A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Naik
authors.forename: Niranjana S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Mahantshetti
authors.forename: Bhaskaran
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Unnikrishnan
authors.forename: Mahesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mallapur
authors.forename: Shashidhar M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kotian
keywords: Factors; incidence; infants; longitudinal study; morbidity; weight gain
references.citation: J Pediatr. 1995 Feb;126(2):191-7
references.pmid: 7844664
references.citation: Srp Arh Celok Lek. 1997 Nov-Dec;125(11-12):325-8
references.pmid: 9480564
references.citation: Indian Pediatr. 1997 Nov;34(11):995-1001
references.pmid: 9567529
references.citation: Am J Epidemiol. 1989 Jun;129(6):1232-46
references.pmid: 2729259
references.citation: Pediatrics. 1997 Mar;99(3):318-33
references.pmid: 9041282
references.citation: Pediatrics. 2001 Oct;108(4):943-8
references.pmid: 11581448
references.citation: Indian Pediatr. 1977 Jul;14(7):511-8
references.pmid: 924662
references.citation: Indian J Med Res. 1967 May;55(5):504-12
references.pmid: 6065430
references.citation: Eur J Clin Nutr. 2006 Mar;60(3):401-7
references.pmid: 16306929
references.citation: J Pediatr. 1995 May;126(5 Pt 1):696-702
references.pmid: 7751991
references.citation: Indian Pediatr. 1977 Feb;14(2):93-7
references.pmid: 881231
references.citation: J Pediatr. 1979 Nov;95(5 Pt 1):685-9
references.pmid: 490234
references.citation: Indian Pediatr. 1981 Oct;18(10):735-41
references.pmid: 7327709
references.citation: J Epidemiol Community Health. 1998 Jul;52(7):451-8
references.pmid: 9799880
references.citation: Pediatrics. 2010 Jul;126(1):e18-25
references.pmid: 20566605
references.citation: Arch Dis Child. 2008 Jun;93(6):479-84
references.pmid: 17916587
references.citation: J Med Assoc Thai. 2005 Jan;88(1):45-51
references.pmid: 15960216
references.citation: Public Health. 1997 Jul;111(4):239-43
references.pmid: 9242037
references.citation: Pediatrics. 1997 Jun;99(6):E5
references.pmid: 9164801
references.citation: Indian J Pediatr. 1995 Jul-Aug;62(4):449-53
references.pmid: 10829904
references.citation: Indian J Pediatr. 2010 Apr;77(4):456-8
references.pmid: 20140772
references.citation: Pediatrics. 1999 Apr;103(4 Pt 2):870-6
references.pmid: 10103324
references.citation: BMJ. 1991 Aug 31;303(6801):493-6
references.pmid: 1912858
references.citation: Pediatrics. 1989 Jan;83(1):31-40
references.pmid: 2909974
references.citation: Am J Epidemiol. 1998 May 1;147(9):863-70
references.pmid: 9583717