A Complementary Feeding Intervention for Fathers and Mothers in Northern Nigeria Improves Children's Minimum Meal Frequency and Consumption of Eggs and Fish

Abstract Objectives The objective of this study was to measure the effects of a social behavior change communication (SBCC) intervention on fathers’ and mothers’ complementary feeding knowledge and attitudes, fathers’ support for complementary feeding, and children's dietary diversity and meal frequency. Methods This study used cross-sectional surveys of cohabiting fathers and mothers with a child 6–23 months before (N = 497) and after (N = 495) the intervention in Igabi local government area, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Participants were randomly sampled within 99 clusters selected proportional to population size. Regression models weighted for the survey design, including inverse propensity weights to adjust for differences in sociodemographic characteristics of the cross-sections, were used to assess before/after differences. Alive & Thrive's 12-month intervention engaged fathers through community meetings, religious services, and mobile phone text and voice messages. Mothers received home visits from community health extension workers (CHEWs), which fathers also could attend. SBCC materials included TV and radio messages, sermon guides, counseling cards, pamphlets, posters, and feeding bowls. Results Exposure of fathers to CHEW visits, fathers and mothers to mass media messages, and fathers to text/voice messages increased from baseline to endline. Fathers’ and mothers’ knowledge of the timing of introduction of different foods and meal frequency shifted toward the global recommendations. Fathers’ support for child feeding by providing money for food increased (79% to 90%, P < 0.001). The percentage of children with minimum dietary diversity did not change (62% to 65%, P = 0.358). The percentage of children who consumed fish (36% to 44%, P = 0.012) and eggs (8% to 20%, P = 0.004), had minimum meal frequency (58% to 73%, P < 0.001), and had minimum acceptable diet (40% to 52%, P < 0.001) increased from baseline to endline. Conclusions A multipronged SBCC intervention improved fathers’ and mothers’ knowledge of complementary feeding, increased fathers’ support for complementary feeding, and modified some complementary feeding practices. Funding Sources This research was funded by the Alive & Thrive initiative, managed by FHI Solutions, and currently funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Irish Aid, the Tanoto Foundation, UNICEF, and the World Bank.

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Engaging Fathers to Improve Dietary Diversity in Northern Nigeria: Perspectives From Community and Religious Leaders, Community Health Extension Workers, and Parents

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzab045_047 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 665-665

Author(s):

Stephanie Martin ◽

Diana Allotey ◽

Abiodun Ipadeola ◽

Sarah Kwasu ◽

Abdulrahaman Mikail ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Community Health ◽

Complementary Feeding ◽

Dietary Diversity ◽

Home Visits ◽

Community Leaders ◽

Religious Leaders ◽

Health Extension Workers ◽

Child Feeding ◽

Mothers And Fathers ◽

Gates Foundation

Abstract Objectives In Kaduna State, Nigeria, Alive & Thrive implemented a multilevel, multicomponent intervention to engage fathers to support dietary diversity among 6–23 month olds. The objectives of this implementation research were to (1) examine the experiences of community health extension workers (CHEWs) and community and religious leaders trained to deliver the intervention, and (2) explore mothers’ and fathers’ experiences with intervention components. Methods After 12 months of implementation, we conducted in-depth interviews with 12 CHEWs and 12 community and religious leaders, and 16 separate focus group discussions (FGDs) with mothers and fathers of children 6–23 months. Interview and FGD transcripts were coded in Atlas.ti and analyzed thematically. Results The intervention was feasible for religious and community leaders and CHEWs to implement and acceptable to families. Religious leaders incorporated complementary feeding and father support into their sermons, community leaders promoted recommended feeding practices to fathers through community meetings, and some CHEWs talked with fathers about dietary diversity during home visits. Mothers and fathers suggested CHEWs schedule home visits with fathers or attend men's community meetings to better engage them. Mothers noted the credibility of religious leaders encouraged fathers to be more involved. Religious and community leaders and CHEWs valued training and monthly supervisory meetings. They suggested additional awareness-raising activities could clarify the intervention scope and purpose for community members. Mothers and fathers valued the posters, child feeding bowls, pamphlets, text and recorded voice messages, and CBO meetings. CHEWs and community and religious leaders asked for increased printed materials, bowls, and transportation allowances. Several participants noted that high costs were a barrier to providing recommended foods, and some described strategies to overcome them. Conclusions Religious and community leaders encouraged fathers to become more involved in complementary feeding. Fathers indicated that contacts through multiple channels motivated them to support recommended practices. Funding Sources Alive & Thrive initiative, managed by FHI Solutions, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Irish Aid, Tanoto Foundation, UNICEF, World Bank.

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Determinants and Current Level of Optimal Complementary Feeding Practices among Lactating Mothers of Children in Ambo Town, Oromia, Ethiopia

10.46619/fpns.2020.1-1004 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 31-50

Author(s):

Haile Abebe ◽

◽

Belay Assefa ◽

Keyword(s):

Complementary Feeding ◽

Dietary Diversity ◽

Feeding Practices ◽

Current Level ◽

Meal Frequency ◽

Maternal Knowledge ◽

Complementary Foods ◽

Chi Square ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Chi Square Test

An appropriate diet is critical in the growth and development of children especially in the first two years of life. Poor complementary feeding of children aged 6 months - 23 months contributes to the characteristics negative growth trends and deaths observed in developing countries. Therefore, this study aimed to assess determinants and current level of optimal complementary feeding practices among mothers of children aged 6 months to 23 months in Ambo town, Oromia Region. The study used cross sectional study design and targeted 336 mothers with children 6 months - 23 months olds. Information from the respondents were collected using standard questionnaire. Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS version 21.0 windows statistical software. All (100%) the children 6 months - 8 months old had received solid, semi-solid/soft foods. The minimum meal frequency was attained by 88.3% (95% CI 84.3-91.4) whereas the minimum dietary diversity was attained by 17.9% (95% CI 14.1-22.5). The minimum acceptable diet was attained by 15.4% (95% CI 11.9-19.8). Maternal knowledge on: importance of breastfeeding (87.3%); age of introduction of complementary foods (85.4%) and correct meal frequency for age (74.5%) was high. On the contrary, knowledge on the importance of enriching complementary foods (34.5%) was low. Mothers who knew the importance of a diverse diet were likely (chi-square test; p=0.001) to feed their children on a diverse diet. On the other hand, mothers who knew the importance of enriching complementary foods were likely to feed their children on a minimum acceptable diet (chi-square test; p = 0.007) and maternal knowledge on enriching complementary foods (OR = 3.41, p = 0.040) were significant predictors of consumption of Vitamin A rich foods, minimum meal frequency and minimum acceptable diet, respectively. Behaviour change and communication involving all the stakeholders in infant and young child feeding should be emphasized. Messages on appropriate feeding practices should include importance of dietary diversity

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COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING INDICATORS FOR CHILDREN AGED 6 TO 23 MONTHS ACCORDING TO BREASTFEEDING STATUS

Revista Paulista de Pediatria ◽

10.1590/1984-0462/2021/39/2019408 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 39 ◽

Author(s):

Daniella Garcia Vidal Rodrigues Leonez ◽

Angélica Rocha de Freitas Melhem ◽

Daniele Gonçalves Vieira ◽

Débora Falleiros de Mello ◽

Paula Chuproski Saldan

Keyword(s):

Complementary Feeding ◽

Dietary Diversity ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

World Health ◽

Meal Frequency ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Semi Solid ◽

Health Organization ◽

Minimum Dietary Diversity

ABSTRACT Objective: To verify if there are differences among the complementary feeding indicators of children aged 6-23 months according to the breastfeeding status. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 1,355 children aged 6-23 months in 2012 to evaluate five indicators proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and modified in accordance with Brazilian’s recommendations “Ten steps to a healthy feeding: a feeding guide for children under two years old”. The indicators used were: I. Introduction of solid, semi-solid or soft foods; II. Minimum dietary diversity; III. Minimum meal frequency; IV. Minimum acceptable diet, and V. Consumption of iron-rich foods. To verify differences between the complementary feeding indicators according to breastfeeding status, the F-statistic was used, with p≤0.05 meaning significant. Results: Indicators I, II, and V were similar among breastfed and non-breastfed children; however, indicators III and IV presented a higher proportion of adequacy for non-breastfed children, with 94.9% (CI95% 93.2-96.2) versus 40.3% (CI95% 33.2-47.9) for indicator III, and 57.3% (CI95% 53.2-61.2) versus 23.1% (CI95% 17.4-30.1) for indicator IV. Conclusions: Non-breastfed children have better complementary feeding status, but the indicator III takes into account non-breast milk as a meal for non-breastfed children, which increased the number of dairy meals and influenced indicator IV (calculated from indicators II and III).

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Complementary Feeding Practices and Associated Factors Among Infants and Young Children 6–23 Months in Fort Portal Kabarole District Uganda (P11-049-19)

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzz048.p11-049-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Sharon Bagaaya ◽

Henry Wamani ◽

Richard Kajura

Keyword(s):

Young Children ◽

Low Income ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Complementary Feeding ◽

Dietary Diversity ◽

Feeding Practices ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Child Feeding ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Infants And Young Children

Abstract Objectives To determine the prevalence of appropriate complementary feeding practices and associated factors among infants and young children 6–23 months in Fort Portal municipality Kabarole Uganda Methods A community based cross sectional study was conducted among 206 mothers/caregivers of infants and young children 6–23 months using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Probability proportionate to population size technique was used to select study subjects. A pretested WHO standard questionnaire for measuring infant and young child feeding practices was adopted for assessing complementary feeding practices. Appropriate complementary feeding was defined as attaining both minimum meal frequency and minimum dietary diversity in the last 24 hours. Prevalence ratios and there 95% confidence intervals were generated. Modified poisson regression analysis method was used to generate factors associated with appropriate complementary feeding. Five focus group discussions were conducted to capture participants perceptions on appropriate complementary feeding practices. Results The prevalence of appropriate complementary feeding was 21.4%. Formal employment (PR: 7.05; CI:1.69-29.36), cohabiting (PR: 2.15; CI: 1.10-4.18) and having no child illness (PR: 1.85; CI: 0.88-4.35) were associated with appropriate complementary feeding. Qualitative results showed that inadequate information and low income as major challenges towards appropriate complementary feeding practices. Conclusions Appropriate complementary feeding practices were low. unless interventions such as; health services access and women entrepreneurship are put in place, the inappropriate complementary feeding practices are unlikely to change. Funding Sources Ministry of Health Uganda. Supporting Tables, Images and/or Graphs

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Minimum Diet Diversity and Minimum Meal Frequency – Do They Matter Equally? Understanding IYCF Practices in India

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzaa054_084 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 1012-1012

Author(s):

Ayushi Jain ◽

Muneer Kalliyil ◽

Satish Agnihotri

Keyword(s):

Child Nutrition ◽

Complementary Feeding ◽

Dietary Diversity ◽

Family Health ◽

Feeding Practices ◽

Meal Frequency ◽

Child Feeding ◽

Diet Diversity ◽

Minimum Dietary Diversity ◽

Nutritional Outcomes

Abstract Objectives Infant and Young Child Feeding practices, mainly, complementary feeding in children between 6 months and two years of age, is found to be sub-optimal and emerge as the weakest link in improving child nutrition outcomes in India. Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD), comprising of two sub-indicator – Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) and Minimum Meal Frequency (MMF), serves as an essential indicator to understand the diet adequacy pattern in children. The objective of this study was thus to investigate the role of MDD-MMF dyad in influencing the nutritional outcomes in children and its pattern across regions in India. Methods Data was obtained from the National Family Health Survey – 4 (NFHS-4) from the DHS Program website. The prevalence of MMF and MDD was calculated for 640 districts in India. The MMF and MDD were classified into three categories - high, medium and low based on equal percentile distribution of their prevalence range. Districts with high MMF and high MDD formed one cohort. Similarly, eight other cohorts were created based on their performance on MMF and MDD indicator. The prevalence of Stunting (St), Wasting (Wa) and Underweight (Uw) in children between 6 months and two years of age was then calculated for each of the nine cohorts. The districts were also mapped based on their cohort category to study the variation across regions in India. Results All three anthropometric indicators – stunting, wasting and underweight showed significant decline moving across low MMF- low MDD cohort (40% St; 26.2% Wa; 37.1% Uw) to medium MMF – medium MDD cohort (38.6% St; 23.8% Wa; 35.4% Uw) to high MMF – high MDD cohort (29% St; 15.5% Wa; 19.2% Uw). Second, the importance of minimum dietary diversity in improving nutritional outcomes was revealed, as opposed to minimum meal frequency, which shows improvement only when it reaches a certain threshold. Third, mapping revealed sharp differences across various regions in MMF-MDD pattern, especially in the states like Odisha, Assam and Andhra Pradesh. States in the central region performed poorly on complementary feeding indicators, specifically diet diversity. Conclusions The study highlights the importance of optimal complementary feeding practices in improving nutrition outcomes and the need to consider the regional heterogeneities while promoting IYCF practices in India. Funding Sources None.

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Complementary Feeding Practices and Child Growth in a Region with a High Burden of Child Undernutrition in Madagascar

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzaa053_096 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 891-891

Author(s):

Hasina Rakotomanana ◽

Deana Hildebrand ◽

Gail Gates ◽

David Thomas ◽

Barbara Stoecker

Keyword(s):

Complementary Feeding ◽

Dietary Diversity ◽

Survey Design ◽

Feeding Practices ◽

Optimal Growth ◽

Child Growth ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Growth Standards ◽

Child Undernutrition

Abstract Objectives The Vakinankaratra region of Madagascar has the highest stunting rates of the country, yet it is one of most agriculturally productive regions. The purpose of this study was to assess maternal complementary feeding practices and their association with child growth. Methods Data from a cross-sectional study of 391 mothers and their infants aged 6–23 months were analyzed. The WHO infant and young child feeding (IYCF) indicators were used to assess complementary feeding practices. A questionnaire for collection of sociodemographic information and 24-hour dietary recall was translated and pre-tested before data collection. Child length and weight were converted to length-for-age (LAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), and weight-for-length (WLZ) using the 2006 WHO Growth Standards. Linear regression models were conducted while adjusting for survey design and confounding variables. Results Stunting (69.4%) and undernutrition (23.4%) rates were very high. The proportion of children achieving minimum dietary diversity (35.8%), minimum acceptable diet (30.2%) and consuming flesh foods (14.1%) were low. Higher dietary diversity score was associated with increased LAZ [β = 0.2, P < 0.05, R2 = 0.16] in 9–11 months infants only. Consuming flesh foods was associated only with higher WAZ [β = 0.41, P < 0.01, R,2 = 0.10]. None of the indicators were associated with WLZ. Conclusions Complementary feeding practices were suboptimal in the Vakinankaratra region. Although crucial for optimal growth, improving feeding practices alone may not be sufficient to reduce the high prevalence of child undernutrition in the region. Funding Sources This study was funded by the Marilynn Thoma Chair in Human Sciences at Oklahoma State University.

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Complementary Feeding Practices and Associated Factors in Children 6–23 months in Uttar Pradesh, India: Program Implications

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzaa053_107 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 902-902

Author(s):

Deepa Sankaran ◽

Priyanshu Sharma ◽

Shajy Isac ◽

Manish Kumar ◽

James Blanchard ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Complementary Feeding ◽

Dietary Diversity ◽

Uttar Pradesh ◽

Meal Frequency ◽

Food Groups ◽

Funding Sources ◽

Age Appropriate ◽

Gates Foundation

Abstract Objectives Optimal complementary feeding (CF) practices among children 6–23 months can prevent childhood malnutrition and can improve long term development and health. Our study aimed to understand CF practices in children 6–23 months, as part of an ongoing nutrition program (with a focus on improving dietary diversity) in UP, India. Methods Mothers of children 6–23 months old were interviewed in 125 blocks across 25 districts of UP (N = 34,290). We assessed dietary intake using 24-hour dietary recalls and calculated minimum dietary diversity (MDD, 4 + food groups) and age-appropriate minimum meal frequency (MMF). We used multivariate logistic regression to test for associations between MDD and program exposure variables, such as frontline worker (FLW) CF knowledge, home visits by FLWs, and FLW counseling on age-appropriate CF practices, controlling for age, caste, religion, mother's education level, birth order and sex of the child. Results Merely 22% of children 6–8 months old received any semisolid/solid food the previous day, and even at 1 year of age, only 60% children received any CF. Fourteen % of all children and 5% of children 9–11 months received age-appropriate MMF. Children 6–23 months old had poor diets with only 11% reaching MDD. Only 3% of younger children (6–11 months) and 18% of children 12–23 months reached MDD. In children 12–23 months, starchy staples, pulses, other fruits and vegetables (F&V) and dairy products were consumed in higher proportions (65%, 52%, 36% and 36% respectively) while Vitamin-A rich F&V, eggs and flesh foods were rarely consumed (11%, 2% and 3.1% respectively). Higher odds of achieving MDD were associated with FLWs CF knowledge (OR: 3.2; 95% CI: 2.2–4.5), home visit by FLWs in the past month (OR: 1.2; 95% CI: 1.1–1.4) and counselling by FLWs on age-appropriate CF practices (OR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.2–1.7) were positively associated with MDD. Conclusions CF practices in children 6–23 months old in these 25 districts in UP are suboptimal. Dietary diversity in this age group can be improved by improving FLW knowledge and quantity and quality of FLW interactions with families. Results suggest a need for targeted age-specific counselling to increase meal frequency and to introduce a greater variety of foods to younger children. Funding Sources Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

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Nutrition Intervention Using Behavioral Change Communication without Additional Material Inputs Increased Expenditures on Key Food Groups in Bangladesh

Journal of Nutrition ◽

10.1093/jn/nxz339 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 150 (5) ◽

pp. 1284-1290

Author(s):

Andrea M Warren ◽

Edward A Frongillo ◽

Phuong H Nguyen ◽

Purnima Menon

Keyword(s):

Behavioral Change ◽

Dietary Diversity ◽

Nutrition Intervention ◽

Food Groups ◽

Child Feeding ◽

Additional Material ◽

Change Communication ◽

Intensive Intervention ◽

Percentage Points ◽

Food Expenditures

ABSTRACT Background Behavioral change communication (BCC) promotes skills and knowledge to improve infant and young child feeding, but without additional material inputs, recipients must develop strategies to translate knowledge into action. Using data from the Alive & Thrive initiative in Bangladesh (2010–2014), we aimed to test whether households receiving the intensive intervention (opposed to the nonintensive intervention) increased expenditures on key foods for mothers and children (e.g., foods that were promoted by the intervention and also changed in maternal and child diets). Methods The intensive intervention provided interpersonal counseling, community mobilization, and mass media campaigns to promote breastfeeding and complementary feeding. A cluster-randomized design compared 20 subdistricts randomly assigned to the intensive (4281 households) or nonintensive (4284 households) intervention. Measures included food and nonfood expenditures, dietary diversity, and women's economic resources. Linear and logistic regression tested difference-in-differences (DD) in expenditures and dietary diversity, accounting for subdistricts as clusters, and the association between maternal and child consumption of specific food groups and corresponding food expenditures. Results Expenditures on eggs and flesh foods increased more in intensive areas than in nonintensive areas by 53 (P < 0.01) and 471 (P < 0.01) taka/mo, respectively. Household food expenditures increased more in intensive areas by 832 taka (P = 0.02), whereas changes in nonfood expenditures did not differ. Women's employment and control of income increased more in intensive areas by 12 (P = 0.03) and 13 (P < 0.01) percentage points, respectively, while jewelry ownership decreased more by 23 percentage points (P < 0.01). Higher expenditures on food groups were reflected in higher consumption by women and children. Conclusions Recipients in the intensive intervention mobilized additional resources to improve diets, reflected in increased expenditures and consumption of promoted foods. BCC interventions should document how recipients produce desired results without additional material inputs, particularly for behaviors that likely require additional resources. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01678716.

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Determinants of inadequate complementary feeding practices among children aged 6–23 months in Ghana

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980014000834 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 669-678 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Abukari I Issaka ◽

Kingsley E Agho ◽

Penelope Burns ◽

Andrew Page ◽

Michael J Dibley

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Health Survey ◽

Complementary Feeding ◽

Dietary Diversity ◽

Feeding Practices ◽

Demographic And Health Survey ◽

Meal Frequency ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Minimum Dietary Diversity ◽

Breast Fed

AbstractObjectiveTo explore complementary feeding practices and identify potential risk factors associated with inadequate complementary feeding practices in Ghana by using the newly developed WHO infant feeding indicators and data from the nationally representative 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey.DesignThe source of data for the analysis was the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. Analysis of the factors associated with inadequate complementary feeding, using individual-, household- and community-level determinants, was done by performing multiple logistic regression modelling.SettingGhana.SubjectsChildren (n 822) aged 6–23 months.ResultsThe prevalence of the introduction of solid, semi-solid or soft foods among infants aged 6–8 months was 72·6 % (95 % CI 64·6 %, 79·3 %). The proportion of children aged 6–23 months who met the minimum meal frequency and dietary diversity for breast-fed and non-breast-fed children was 46·0 % (95 % CI 42·3 %, 49·9 %) and 51·4 % (95 % CI 47·4 %, 55·3 %) respectively and the prevalence of minimum acceptable diet for breast-fed children was 29·9 % (95 % CI 26·1 %, 34·1 %). Multivariate analysis revealed that children from the other administrative regions were less likely to meet minimum dietary diversity, meal frequency and acceptable diet than those from the Volta region. Household poverty, children whose mothers perceived their size to be smaller than average and children who were delivered at home were significantly less likely to meet the minimum dietary diversity requirement; and children whose mothers did not have any postnatal check-ups were significantly less likely to meet the requirement for minimum acceptable diet. Complementary feeding was significantly lower in infants from illiterate mothers (adjusted OR=3·55; 95 % CI 1·05, 12·02).ConclusionsThe prevalence of complementary feeding among children in Ghana is still below the WHO-recommended standard of 90 % coverage. Non-attendance of postnatal check-up by mothers, cultural beliefs and habits, household poverty, home delivery of babies and non-Christian mothers were the most important risk factors for inadequate complementary feeding practices. Therefore, nutrition educational interventions to improve complementary feeding practices should target these factors in order to achieve the fourth Millennium Development Goal.

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Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Practices by Rural Mothers of Bangladesh

Medicine Today ◽

10.3329/medtoday.v28i1.30959 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 1-5

Author(s):

Md Saizuddin ◽

Md Shahidul Hasan ◽

Md Rashidul Islam ◽

Md Alfazzaman ◽

MM Mafizur Rahman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Child ◽

Exclusive Breastfeeding ◽

Complementary Feeding ◽

Feeding Practices ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Child Feeding ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Young Child Feeding ◽

Rural Mothers ◽

Initiation Of Breastfeeding

A descriptive type of cross sectional study was carried out to assess the pattern of infant & young child feeding practices by the rural mothers of Bangladesh with a sample size of 450 during the months of January, 2015 to December, 2015. Out of 450 children, 51.1% are female & 48.9% are male. The proportions of infants with early initiation of breastfeeding (13.6%) and exclusive breastfeeding fewer than six months (57.3%) and infants who received complementary feeding at the age of 6-8 months (55.7%) were low. It showed that 90.4% of mothers have knowledge on exclusive breast feeding but only 57.3% of them have practiced it for 4-6 months. It further revealed that only 8.4% of mothers & 13.6 % of fathers are illiterate. The main problems revealed from the study were late initiation of breastfeeding, low rates of exclusive breastfeeding and inappropriate complementary feeding practices. It further revealed that 69.3% of the respondents had two or less children and only 30.7% had three or more children.Medicine Today 2016 Vol.28(1): 1-5

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