PREVALENCE OF PNEUMONIA, DIARRHEA AND ANEMIA AMONG INFANTS (CHILDREN UP TO 1 YEAR) IN SOUTH - WEST REGION OF BANGLADESH

Exclusive breast feeding means that the baby has no other food or drinks even dummy or pacfier. Human milk provides immunoglobulin and lactoferrin which protects the host gastro-intestinal system from enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli a major cause of infant Diarrhoea. Secretory immunoglobulin-A is an important component of passive immunity in first weeks before endgenous immunoglobulin production begins. The current study showed that out 400 infants 15.5% were not anemic and possessed good health but 35% were moderately anemic, 43% were mild anemia and 6.5% were severely anemic. But this study showed alter result because childs health not only depend on breastfeeding but also many other factors such as weaning practice, vaccination, mothers awareness about sanitation and hygiene over all nutritional status of mother, usually they are anemic. After breastfeeding the second most critical factor is weaning practice that affects the childs health. Study showed around 59% family dont know about weaning practice and their benefit and the proportion even higher in rural area (80.5%). The anemia prevalence (66%) was higher among 7-12 moths age group compared to below six months aged infants (34%). The prevalence of other two diseases was also higher among infant from rural area (40 and 57%). This higher prevalence of anemia, pneumonia and diarrhea among infant within 7 to 12 months and particularly in rural area could be explained by the hypothesis of inadequate knowledge and practice of weaning.