scholarly journals Accelerating improvements in nutritional and health status of young children in the Sahel region of Sub-Saharan Africa: review of international guidelines on infant and young child feeding and nutrition

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 6-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara E. Wuehler ◽  
Sonja Y. Hess ◽  
Kenneth H. Brown
BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. e023238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samson Gebremedhin

ObjectiveThe objective of the study is to determine the status of infant and young child feeding (IYCF) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) based on multiple indicators.DesignSecondary data analysis of 32 Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in SSA since 2010.SettingThirty-two countries in SSA.Participants151 575 infants and young children born in the preceding 2 years of the surveys.Indicators determinedEight core and six optional IYCF indicators.ResultsMajority (95.8%) of the children born in the preceding 24 months were ever breastfed, and 50.5% initiated breastfeeding within the first hour of birth. Among infants 0–5 months of age, 72.3% were predominantly breastfed and 41.0% were exclusively breastfed. Continued breastfeeding at 1 year (89.5%) was reasonably high, but only 53.7% continued breastfeeding at 2 years and 60.4% had age-appropriate breastfeeding. About two-thirds (69.3%) of infants 6–8 months of age received solid, semisolid or soft food over the previous day across the countries. Among children 6–23 months of age, 41.9% met the minimum recommended meal frequency, while smaller proportions satisfied the minimum dietary diversity (21.0%) and acceptable diet (9.8%). About one-third (37.6%) of children 6–23 months of age consumed iron-rich or iron-fortified food over the previous day. Among non-breastfed children, only 15.0% received the recommended two or more milk feedings. Thirteen per cent were fed with a bottle with a nipple in the previous day. Country-level estimates for most indicators showed remarkable variations. Yet the minimum dietary diversity and acceptable diet indicators were consistently low.ConclusionMost breastfeeding-related indicators, except exclusive and early initiation of breastfeeding, are in an acceptable level in SSA. However, complementary feeding indicators are generally low.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 687-698
Author(s):  
Immacolata Dall’Oglio ◽  
Francesca Marchetti ◽  
Rachele Mascolo ◽  
Patrizia Amadio ◽  
Orsola Gawronski ◽  
...  

Background Infants, young children, and their mothers are vulnerable in humanitarian emergencies. The health benefits of optimal breastfeeding practices in emergency settings have been demonstrated by many researchers. Infant and Young Children Feeding in Emergency guidelines illustrate a series of interventions to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding, but unfortunately, these recommendations are still scarcely applied. Research Aims (1) To review the literature describing the effectiveness of breastfeeding protection, promotion, and support interventions in humanitarian emergency contexts; (2) to describe the influence of interventions on breastfeeding initiation, exclusivity, and duration; and (3) to evaluate relevant mother and infant/child outcomes available in the literature. Methods PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Psychology Database, JSTOR, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Ovid were searched for articles that examined breastfeeding protection, promotion, or support interventions and the resulting outcomes without any time limits ( N = 10). Articles that did not include the interventions and related outcomes were excluded ( n = 1,391). Results Improved breastfeeding outcomes were reported in four (40%) papers, and three (30%) highlighted a behavioral change in infant and young child feeding practices following the implementation of the interventions. Increased knowledge about appropriate infant and young child feeding practices among mothers and humanitarian/health staff was reported in eight (80%) papers. However, outcomes were sometimes only generically reported, and some of the included papers had a low strength of evidence. Conclusion In the literature, there is a great dearth of studies evaluating the influence of interventions aimed at improving breastfeeding in emergency settings. More evidence is urgently needed to encourage and implement optimal breastfeeding practices.


2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 719-720
Author(s):  
Susan Jack ◽  
Kevanna Ou ◽  
Mary Chea ◽  
Lan Chhin ◽  
Robyn Devenish ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Sudhir Shankar Mane ◽  
Pranitha Reddy Chundi

Background: The objective of the study was to assess Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices using World Health Organization indicators in infants and young children attending immunization clinics. Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was designed in a tertiary care hospital in an urban setup. Infant and young children from birth to 24 months attending immunization clinics were included. Main outcome measures were to assess IYCF Practices (8 Core and 7 Optional Indicators) and possible reasons for not practicing the same. Results: A total of 520 mothers attending immunization clinics were interviewed from June to July 2014. Mean age of the children was 32.5 weeks. 50.1% and 47.6% belonged to Hindu and Muslim religion respectively. Only 33.78% children were breastfed within one hour of birth. Among those who had not initiated breastfeeding within one hour of birth, 60.6% were not aware and the most common reason was caesarean section. In children older than 6 months, only 80% of children were exclusively breast fed for six months and the most common reason was insufficient breast milk. Only 72.5% of mothers introduced complementary foods from 6 to 9 months. Conclusions: The study shows poor IYCF practices in children attending immunization clinic at an urban tertiary care hospital. There is a clear knowledge gap among mothers. These faulty practices need to be addressed to improve feeding practices so as to maximize their benefits to the child. The study did not assess nutritional status of children. This would have been useful to see how inadequate IYCF practices were associated with nutritional status of the children. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 1866
Author(s):  
Bibin Varghese ◽  
Mehul M. Gosai ◽  
Asha V. Patel ◽  
Akash Patel

Background: Suboptimal maternal–child nutrition leading to malnutrition is the major cause increasing morbidity and mortality from severe acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) among under two children. This research compares the infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices in children with ALRI and children coming for routine immunization to find out the independent risk factors.Methods: The study was a hospital-based case control study. Infant and young children from 6 months to two years with ALRI admitted to the pediatric ward were studied as cases. Infant and young children of same age coming for routine immunization to the pediatric immunization clinic were studied as controls. Feeding patterns, socio-demographic, environmental and parenting factors were obtained from them in between May 2019 to April 2020.Results: Mixed feeding till 6 months (adjusted OR=34.191; 95% CI, 2.158–541.801; p=0.012), early initiation of complimentary feeding (AOR=30.389; 95% CI, 1.426–647.603; p=0.029), late initiation of complimentary feeding (AOR=28.696; 95% CI, 1.217–676.566; p=0.037) and inadequate amount of complimentary feeding (AOR=14.406; 95% CI, 1.898–109.371; p=0.010) were significant in multivariate analysis.Conclusions: Interventions to increase awareness of breastfeeding and complimentary feeding practices seldom reach lower sections of the society. Feeding visits, mother support groups and community projects to provide home based counselling on IYCF are needed to improve the situation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karleen Gribble ◽  
Mary Peterson ◽  
Decalie Brown

Abstract Background Australia experiences a high incidence of natural emergencies and Australian governments have committed significant investment into emergency preparedness and response. Amongst the population groups most vulnerable to emergencies are infants and young children with their vulnerability centering around their specific food and fluid needs. For this reason, the World Health Assembly has urged all member states to develop and implement infant and young child feeding in emergency (IYCF-E) plans in line with international guidance. This study aimed to determine the degree to which Australia has complied with this direction by conducting an audit of Australian emergency plans and guidance. Methods Australian Federal, State/Territory and a sample of Local government emergency plans and guidance were located via web searches. Documents were searched for key words to identify content dealing with the needs of infants and young children. Plans and guidance were also searched for content dealing with the needs of animals as a comparison. Results While plans and guidance contained numerous pointers to the desirability of having plans that address IYCF-E, there was a dearth of planning at all levels of government for the needs of infants and young children. Guidance related to heat waves contained information that could prove dangerous to infants. No agency at Federal or State/Territory had designated responsibility for IYCF-E or children in general. This was in stark contrast to the situation of animals for which there was widespread and comprehensive planning at all levels of government with clear designation of organisational responsibility. Conclusions Lack of planning for IYCF-E in Australia places infants and young children at serious risk of adverse health consequences in emergencies. Australian Federal, State/Territory and Local governments need to take action to ensure that IYCF-E plans and guidance are developed and deployed in line with international standards. The pathway to successful integration of animal welfare plans provides a method for a similar integration of IYCF-E plans. Government health authorities are best placed to lead and be responsible for IYCF-E in Australia. National governments internationally should similarly take action to ensure that their youngest, most vulnerable citizens are protected in emergencies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 114-124
Author(s):  
George Kent

A recent book from the United States’ National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine was prepared “to collect, compare, and summarize existing recommendations on what and how to feed infants and young children from birth to 24 months of age” This review explores what its purpose might be.  


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanine Ahishakiye ◽  
Lenneke Vaandrager ◽  
Inge D. Brouwer ◽  
Maria Koelen

Abstract Background Mothers in low-income countries face many challenges to appropriately feed their children in the first year such as poverty, food insecurity and high workloads. However, even in the lowest income families there are mothers who succeed to feed their children according to the recommendations. In this paper, we explored the coping strategies that facilitate appropriate breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices among rural Rwandan mothers from birth to one year of a child’s life. Methods This qualitative longitudinal study recruited a purposive sample of 17 mothers who followed the infant and young child feeding recommendations (IYCF). They were selected from a larger study of 36 mothers. In-depth interviews were conducted with mothers of the total group (36 mothers) within the first week, at 4th, 6th, 9th and 12th months postpartum. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically. Results Coping strategies included improving mothers’ own diet for adequate breastmilk production, prioritizing child feeding over livelihood chores, livelihood diversification and mothers’ anticipatory behaviors such as preparing child’s food in advance. Some of those coping strategies were shifting overtime depending on the development of the children. Personal factors such as breastfeeding self-efficacy, religious beliefs and perceived benefits of breastfeeding were among the facilitating factors. Additionally, social support that mothers received from family members, other mothers in the community, Community Health Workers (CHWs) and health professionals played an important role. Conclusion In challenging contextual conditions, mothers manage to follow the recommended breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices through the interplay of active coping strategies, feeling to be in control and social support. Nutrition promotion interventions that aim to improve IYCF should consider strengthening mothers’ capability in gaining greater control of their IYCF practices and the factors facilitating their appropriate IYCF practices.


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