Influence of infant feeding practices on the occurrence of malnutrition, malaria and anaemia in children ≤5 years in the Mount Cameroon area: A cross sectional study

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of different infant feeding habits on the occurrence of malnutrition, Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia and anaemia in children ≤5 years in the Mount Cameroon area. METHODOLOGY: A total of 1227 children ≤5 years of age were recruited in a descriptive cross-sectional study. Socio demographic data and information on the different infant feeding habits was obtained by the use of semi-structured questionnaire. Nutritional status was assessed by the use of anthropometric measurements. Plasmodium was detected by light microscopy and haemoglobin was measured by use of an auto-haematology analyser. Anaemia as well as its severity was classified based on WHO standards. The associations between variables were assessed using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of exclusive breast feeding (EBF) was 22.6%, mixed feeding (MF) was 60.1% and those not breastfed (NBF) at all was 17.3%. The prevalence of malnutrition, P. falciparum parasitaemia and anaemia was 32.6%, 30.4% and 77.3% respectively. Children who had EBF had significantly lower (P <0.001) prevalence of malaria parasite (16.2%) than those NBF at all (61.3%). The prevalence of anaemia was significantly higher (P <0.001) in children who had MF (80.5%) while, severe and moderate anaemia was highest in those NBF at all (6.6%, 67.1% respectively; P = 0.029) than their counterparts. The significant predictors of anaemia were age group (P <0.001), marital status (P <0.001) and educational level of parent (P <0.001), that for malaria parasitaemia was infant feeding habit (MF: P< 0.001 and NBF: P <0.001) and malnutrition was age group (≤2 years: P <0.008 and 2.1–4.0 years: P = 0.028). CONCLUSION: The infant feeding habit significantly influenced the occurrence of malaria parasite infection and not malnutrition and anaemia, hence EBF should be encouraged in malaria endemic zones.