1Senior Resident, Cloudnine Hospital, Mumbai
2Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Sharda School of Medical Sciences and Research, Sharda University, Knowledge Park III, Greater Noida, UP - 201310, India
3,5Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Sharda School of Medical Sciences and Research, Sharda University, Knowledge Park III, Greater Noida, UP - 201310, India
4Professor, PGICH, Sector – 30, Noida, UP – 201303, India
Background: Optimal growth and development during early childhood are profoundly influenced by feeding practices and maternal education. This study aimed to assess the relationship between these factors and growth and developmental outcomes in 18-month-old children.
Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study at a tertiary care hospital in North India. Two hundred asymptomatic children attending the immunization OPD were recruited through consecutive sampling. Maternal education, infant feeding practices, anthropometric data (weight-for-age, length-for-age), and developmental milestones (gross motor, fine motor, language, and social) were recorded. Data analysis was performed using SPSS v26, applying chi-square and t-tests, with significance set at p<0.05.
Results: Significant associations were found between maternal education and fine motor (p<0.01), language development (p<0.01) and social and adaptive milestones (p<0.01). Children exclusively breastfed ≥6 months had better weight-for-age scores (p<0.01), and adequate calorie intake after introduction of complementary feeding was significantly linked with improved length-for-age (p<0.01) and fine motor, language and social milestone development (p<0.01).
Conclusion: Maternal education and appropriate and adequate feeding practices are crucial for optimal physical and developmental outcomes in early childhood.
Keywords: Maternal education, Feeding practices, Exclusive breastfeeding, Child development, Calorie intake
How to cite this article: Yesaji PP, Swarup P, Nair BT, Koley G, Thapar RK., Impact of Maternal Education and Feeding Practices on Growth and Development in 18-Month-Old Children...Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026; 16(11s): 718-725; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.11s.74
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None