INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD FEEDING PRACTICES AMONG AFRICAN PASTORALISTS: THE DATOGA OF TANZANIA

1998 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 481-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
DANIEL W. SELLEN

Breast-feeding and weaning practices were observed for a cohort of 81 children under 3 years of age in the context of a longitudinal study of social, ecological and nutritional factors affecting growth in a semi-nomadic population of pastoralists in northern Tanzania (WaDatoga of Mbulu District). The adequacy of indigenous infant and young child feeding practices was assessed in relation to current international recommendations. Objectives were to provide baseline data for future investigations of any changes in young child feeding practices which accompany population shifts towards settlement and non-pastoral modes of subsistence, and to improve understanding of the strengths and limitations of indigenous feeding practices in this type of population. It was found that while breast-feeding was universally initiated, other aspects of young child feeding practices do not meet current international recommendations. Prelacteal feeds are commonly used, supplementary feeding with non-human milks usually occurs before 4 months of age, use of solid foods normally begins later than 6 months, and breast-feeding does not continue until 2 years of age for the majority of children. The data have implications for the design of breast-feeding promotion and improved weaning food interventions among African pastoralists.

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-38
Author(s):  
Iswari Luitel ◽  
Rita Kumari Ban ◽  
Sabika Munikar

Introduction: Infant and young child feeding practices play vital role for the growth and development. It is recommended to exclusively breastfed for first six months and thereafter receive complementary foods with continued breastfeeding. However Chepang, the indigenous community of Nepal depends primarily upon forest food. This study aims to determine the infant and young child feeding practices among Chepang children. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among the mothers of 77 children aged six to 59 months through purposive sampling. Data was collected through face to face interview taking informed written consent. The collected data were analysed for descriptive and bivariate analysis using SPSS version 21. Results: In this study, mean age of respondents was 25.92 (±7.04) years, 68.8% followed Christian religion, 51.9% were educated, only 45.5% of respondent’s spouse were educated and 51.9% belonged to nuclear family. Among the respondents, 65.7% had good breast feeding practice and 88.3% had good complementary feeding practice. Statistically significant relationship was found between breast feeding practice and educational status and also between complementary feeding practice and family type. Conclusions: This study found that respondents had good breast feeding practice and complementary feeding practice. Among the respondent, seven out of 10 had good breast feeding practice and nine out of 10 had good complementary feeding practice. Association between breast feeding practice and educational status puts light upon the need for educating and empowering women for improved infant and young child feeding practices.  


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonali Kar ◽  
Sourav Bhattacharjee ◽  
PC Samantaray ◽  
Seba Biswal

A global strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) was issued jointly by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 2002, to reverse the disturbing trends in infant and young child feeding practices. This stands out as an extremely cost-effective and extremely advantageous method to bring down the infant and child mortality and morbidity especially in developing countries like India.Odisha, one of the states in India, records just 50% of exclusive breast feeding practice as reported in National Family Health Survey-3 (2005-6) and also accounts for one of the highest Infant Mortality Rates in the country. Hence the current studywas planned jointly by the Nutrition wing of UNICEF and Odisha Voluntary Health Association (OVHA), a Nongovernmental Organization which works for health programs in the state. A baseline study to assess Infant Feeding Practices thus was plannedfor 7 districts of the state and sampled so as to adequately represent the marginalized population of the state. A detailed questionnaire with information on sociodemographic parameters of the study population and questions that elicited informationon the infant and child feeding practices was designed and pretested in a sample population and a team of supervisors and data collectors were trained for the purpose. The study revealed district level data on the infant young child feeding practices in the state. Exclusive Breast Feeding (EBF) was calculated as 48% and early initiation of breast feeding was nearly 46%. The feeding indicators calculated for 6-23 months age group were of greater concern as minimum dietary diversity is reported 27.4% and minimum meal frequency is 29%. In spite ofthe provision of iron syrup and iron folic acid tablets under the flagship program of the country, that is, National Rural Health Mission, for 6-59 months children, the consumption of iron fortified foods is reported as only 6.8%. This could be the cause ofhigh level of morbidity reported in under five in the state. The data was presented to the state program managers inorder to prioritize the problem areas and take requisite steps at the district level to improve the IYCF indicators in their respective states.


Author(s):  
Subhadra K. T.

Background: This study was carried out to assess the practices of young mothers related to Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices (IYCF) in Chottanikkara Grama Panchayat.Methods: All mothers of infants and children upto 5 years in Chottanikkara Grama Panchayat who were registered under the Integrated Child development Services (ICDS) program for services were interviewed based on self-prepared questionnaire based on National guidelines for IYCF by Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP).Results: 277 ladies were interviewed. Of this 50% of ladies had undergone caesarean delivery. 60.7% of children had received prelacteals. Only less than 30% of infants had been given breast milk within one hour after delivery. 50% of the ladies exclusively breast fed their babies only below a period of four months. Around 50% of ladies started complementary feeding of child on 6th month of age, whereas around 30% started complementary feeding before 6 months and 20% started complementary feeding only after 6 months of age. 78.6% of ladies continued breast feeding till 2 years after delivery.Conclusions: The studied population was a small population who had used services of the anganwadi and ASHA workers. But there are many who are not properly utilizing these services. In both rural and urban areas more efforts are needed to encourage exclusive breast feeding, to avoid premature complementation and, in the urban areas to protect extended breast feeding.


Author(s):  
Nabanita Chakraborty ◽  
Gautam Kumar Joardar

Background: Age appropriate feeding practices is an essential determinant of physical growth as well as mental health of under-five children. WHO and UNICEF have formulated the infant and young child feeding practices guidelines to enhance appropriate feeding practices in infants and young children.Methods: A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted in the immunization clinic of KPC medical college and hospital from October to December 2018 among children in 0-23 months age group. The mothers were interviewed regarding their sociodemographic details as well as the IYCF practices as per WHO.Results: It was found that appropriate practices in terms of prelacteal feeding, colostrum feeding; early initiation of breast feeding and exclusive breast feeding was present in 78.4%, 80%, 77.5% and 50% children respectively. Timely initiation of complementary feeding was found in 81%, breast feeding was continued upto 1 year in 68.8% and consumption of iron rich or iron fortified food was found in 54.5% children. Appropriate practices in terms of minimum meal frequency, minimum dietary diversity and minimum appropriate diet were found in 49.7%, 27% and 32.3% children respectively. Sex wise distributions have found significant association with minimum dietary diversity and minimum acceptable diet. Age wise distribution revealed significant association with minimum dietary frequency, minimum dietary diversity and minimum acceptable diet (p<0.005).Conclusions: Thus infant and young child feeding practices were not satisfactory. Mothers should be made aware about the appropriate feeding practices and health education should be given regarding correct child feeding practices.


2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nigatu Regassa Geda ◽  
Cindy Xin Feng ◽  
Bonnie Janzen ◽  
Rein Lepnurm ◽  
Carol J. Henry ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Undernutrition among children is a priority area of public health concern in Ethiopia. The purpose of this study was to examine disparities in Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices among children 6–23 months. Method Data were drawn from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS). A total of 3240 children aged 6–23 months were used for the present analysis. The outcome variable was IYCF practice score (ranging 0–7) which was constructed based on the linear and combined effects of four sets of variables: breastfeeding, avoidance of bottle feeding, diet diversity score and minimum feeding frequency. IYCF practice score was further recoded into three categories. Proportional odds regression was used to assess the determinants of IYCF category. Results The proportional odds regression analysis showed that IYCF scores significantly decreased by 5% (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 0.95; 95% CI: 0.93–0.97) for every unit increase in the child’s age. Households with fathers of primary and secondary and above level education were 1.37 times (95% CI: 1.14–1.66) and 1.67 times (95% CI: 1.26–2.23) more likely to be in the high IYCF category than in the poor IYCF category. The likelihood of being in the high IYCF practice category decreased for non-working mothers by 30% (AOR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.59–0.83) compared to those working in gainful employment. The chance of being in the high IYCF practice category decreased by 29% for households with no access to radio (AOR = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.59–0.85). Those with medium and rich/richer wealth category were 1.54 times (95% CI: 1.22–1.94) and 1.40 times (95% CI: 1.11–1.75) more likely to belong to high IYCF practice category than being in poor IYCF category. For every unit increase in health service utilization, the chance of falling in higher IYCF category increases by 1.15 times (95% CI: 1.08–1.23). The chance of falling in higher IYCF practice category decreases for rural residents by 37% (AOR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.47–0.84) compared to those residing in urban areas. Conclusion For a child, the first two years is the time span during which linear faltering of growth is most prevalent and the period when the process of becoming stunted is almost complete. This study recommends improving access to women for gainful employment, provision of economic support to poor rural women, education and promotion of nutrition messages using most accessible media and boosting the positive role of fathers in child feeding practices.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. e109181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Komal P. Kushwaha ◽  
Jhuma Sankar ◽  
M. Jeeva Sankar ◽  
Arun Gupta ◽  
J. P. Dadhich ◽  
...  

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