Question

The importance of social support for an infant: what does that look like?

Answer 1

Supportive and engaging father and grandmother of infants to improve their knowledge of optimal infant feeding practices and to provide social support to mothers would improve some feeding practices.Studies should engage all household influencers to practice and support infant feeding recommendations.

From studies,it is shown that malnutrition is a contributing factor in nearly 50% of under-5 year child deaths.In developing countries, more than 3.5 million children under 5 years of age die each year with undernutrition as an underlying cause. Optimal infant and young child feeding practices contribute greatly to child nutrition.Optimal practices include exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and appropriate complementary feeding to at least 2 years of age. Appropriate complementary feeding includes initiation of solid or semisolid foods from 6 months of age, increasing the quantity, density, and variety of foods,increasing the frequency of feeding as the child gets older, ensuring hygienic preparation and feeding of foods. Incorporating animal-source foods in a child’s diet also help ensure adequate intake of protein, iron, and vitamin A.

The unique situation in the life of the mother and child is characterized by doubt and uncertainty. It can often also cause psychological distress to the woman, who frequently enters the hospital world and has to deal with the child's hospitalization alone.

The Social support helps to overcome difficult situations that life creates ,which is of different types:

a) instrumental, which consists of symbolic and material help .

b) emotional which includes affection and admiration.

c) affirmation that consists of certain behavior, perceptions and values.

d)information and guidance support.

The social support network is the sum of all relationships that an individual perceives as significant from rest of society. It is considered to be a type of kinship, friendship, and social class. It is a social circle that consists of affinity, and forms a network to bring people together. Many of these support networks are formed within the hospital, as members of families come to share the same environment, as well as experiences and suffering related to the disease process.

Thus Social networks are important for physical and mental health, even under normal conditions in general populations. Social support and good social relationships have an important positive contribution to health, and provide s emotional and practical resources to people within the community .