Abstract
Dietary data were collected on 496 households, and anthropometric measurements were carried out on 248 children under five years of age in rural Bangladesh. the effect of socio-economic determinants on infant feeding and malnutrition was analyzed using univariate and logistic regression models. of the children under five, 52% were stunted and 57% were of low weight-for-age. Malnutrition was significantly influenced (p < .05) by income, size of cropland, the education of both parents, and some infant-feeding practices, but the mother's education emerged as the primary predictor of the nutritional status of children. Breastfeeding was the norm, and 95% of the mothers perceived breastmilk to be superior to milk substitutes, but rejection of colostrum, preference for prelacteal feeds, early supplementation, and inadequate timing and type of weaning diet were widespread. often, there was a discrepancy between the expressed infant-feeding preferences and actual practices.