Risk factors for failure to thrive among infants at a hospital in North India: a case–control study.

This article focuses on identifying risk factors for failure to thrive (FTT)—a significant growth faltering condition due to undernutrition—in infants aged 2–12 months in rural North India. A case–control study at Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences involving 152 infants with FTT and 304 healthy controls found that rural residence, incomplete or absent immunization, lack of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months, and delayed complementary feeding were independently associated with increased odds of FTT. While prematurity showed some association in univariate analysis, it was not significant in multivariate analysis. The study highlights the need for targeted public health interventions, including community education and improved immunization coverage, to address these modifiable risk factors and improve infant growth outcomes in resource-limited rural settings.