Emergency Management: Infant and Young Children Feeding in Emergencies

Early exposure to aflatoxins through complementary food is linked to impaired growth in childhood. The current study assessed the household’s practices on management of complementary foods in relation to the risk of aflatoxin exposure and poor nutritional status among infant and young children in Tanzania. A cross-sectional study of complementary feeding practices, aflatoxin exposure and nutritional status was conducted to 101 infants and young children aged between 6-23 months in Dodoma region of Tanzania. The intake of complementary food was estimated by using repeated 24 h dietary recall. Flour used as complementary food was sampled from each of the 101 families and aflatoxins were analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography. A deterministic approach was used to estimate dietary exposure of aflatoxins in the complementary foods. Anthropometric measurements were taken and rates of stunting, underweight and wasting estimated according to the WHO standard procedures. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between feeding practices and aflatoxin exposure or the growth performance among subjects. The average consumption of complementary flour was 118 g per child per day and 52% of the flours contained groundnuts. AFB1was detected in 42.5% of the flour and levels ranged from 0.3 to 2,128.0 μg/kg (mean 228.11±49.84 μg/kg). Dietary exposures of aflatoxin B1ranged from 0.1 to 23,172.81 ng/kg body weight per day (mean 1,337±392.5 ng/kg). Of the subjects, 40.4% (95% CI; 29.8; 50.9) were stunted and significant association was found between stunted growth and dietary exposure of AFB1(adjusted odd ratio (AOR)=5.9; 95% CI: 0.019-0.028). Early introduction of cereal-and groundnut-based complementary foods in Tanzania is associated with high risk of aflatoxin exposure and impaired growth in children. There is need to integrate aflatoxin management measures in the guidelines for Infant and Young Children Feeding of Tanzania.

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Are There Adequate Policies and Programmes in Place to Protect Infants and Young Children During Emergencies?

Prehospital and Disaster Medicine ◽

10.1017/s1049023x19001304 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 34 (s1) ◽

pp. s58-s58

Author(s):

Tracey Dale ◽

Foster Hansson

Keyword(s):

Local Government ◽

Young Children ◽

Emergency Management ◽

Emergency Preparedness ◽

Federal State ◽

Child Feeding ◽

Young Child Feeding ◽

Management Plans ◽

Infants And Young Children ◽

State Territory

Introduction:In emergencies, infants and young children are disproportionately affected due to specific food and fluid requirements, immature immune system, susceptibility to dehydration, and dependence on others. Provision of safe food and water to infants and young children is critical. However, it is challenging in the emergency context. Specific planning is vital to support infant and young child feeding in emergencies (IYCF-E).Aim:To identify the extent to which Australian emergency management plans and guidance account for the needs of infants and young children.Methods:An audit of Australian emergency management plans and guidance was conducted as a part of the 2018 World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative assessment of Australian infant feeding policies. All national and state/territory emergency preparedness plans, and a sample of local government area preparedness plans, response plans, and other guidance were identified and searched for content related to the needs of infants and young children. Plans and guidance were searched for content related to the needs of animals as a comparison.Results:Vulnerability of infants and young children was commonly noted. However, content related to supporting the specific needs of infants and young children through appropriate IYCF-E was almost totally absent. In some cases, the guidance that did exist was misleading or dangerous. No agency at the federal, state/territory, or local government level was identified as having met the responsibility for ensuring the needs of infants and young children. The absence of any coordinated response for the needs of infants and young children is in stark contrast to consideration of animal needs, which have a delegated authority, plans, and guidance at all levels of government.Discussion:Planning for the needs of infants and young children in emergencies in Australia is dangerously inadequate. Action should be taken to ensure that appropriate plans exist at all levels of government.

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