Theory and Clinical Practice in Pediatrics

Purpose: In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), malnutrition remains a public health problem despite interventions to improve the nutritional status of children. The objective of this study is to determine the degree of association between dietary practices and malnutrition among infants aged 12 to 23 months in Lubumbashi (DRC).
Methods: We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study of 574 infants between 12 and 23 months of age from urban and semi-urban areas. Door to door survey was done to collect data. Nutritional status was assessed and compared with feeding practices. A multivariate analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between dietary practices and malnutrition in these children.
Results: Bottle feeding before 6 months (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.8 [1.2-2.8]; p = 0.006), introduction of solid, semi-solid or soft foods before 6 months (aOR = 2.1 [1.0-4.3]; p = 0.042), and insufficient minimum dietary diversity (aOR=2.3 [1.6-3.5]; p < 0.0001) were independently associated with stunting. Late breastfeeding initiation (aOR = 2.4 [1.1-5.0]; p = 0.023) increases the risk of wasting.
Conclusion: Infant malnutrition is sometimes a reflection of inappropriate eating practices from the early stages of a child’s life.  Adherence to sufficient nutritional recommendations at birth can reduce this burden in developing countries.

Cerebral palsy is the most common cause of disability that develops in infancy. This complex disorder affects adult life in a powerful way. Challenges include performing motor skills and achieving physical capabilities. The majority of individuals also report lifelong psychosocial stressors. Furthermore, mental health issues occur more commonly in this patient subset, as do struggles with employment and education. Often the severity of challenges correlates to the severity of the cerebral palsy. The prognosis of individuals with cerebral palsy has improved over the last three decades, although it continues to be a lifelong condition. In order to promote healthy aging across their lifespan, intervention programs should be considered to improve physical well-being, and care should be taken to maintain mental health.