Across-Country Comparisons of Selected Infant and Young Child Feeding Indicators and Associated Factors in Four South Asian Countries

Background. Growing evidence suggests that inadequate intake, poor caring practices, and disease process were some of the immediate and major causes of undernutrition in children. This points out that infant and young child feeding were the basic grounds to improve child survival and promote healthy growth and development. The first two years of a child’s life are particularly important, as optimal nutrition during this period lowers morbidity and mortality, reduces the risk of chronic disease, and enhances the chances of better development. The study was aimed to assess sick infant and young child feeding practice and associated factors among mothers of children aged less than 24 months old in the Burayu town Oromia, Ethiopia. Methods. Institutional based cross-sectional study design was utilized. The study was conducted from April-May, 2015 among 362 mother–child pair attending the maternal and childcare (MCH) units of the two public health facilities in the Burayu town. Bivariate and multivariable analysis was done to test the relationship between the explanatory and outcome variables and the odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and the p-value was used to ascertain statistical significance. Result. More than half (53.6%) of all mothers fed their child more frequently at the time of illness than at a time of health. The mean age of respondents was 25.41 ± 3.56 and ranged from 15−30 years. Nearly three out of five (60.8%) of the respondents attended no formal education. A mother who had got counseling on sick child feeding were nearly three times more likely to feed their child appropriately than their counterparts (AOR: 2.95; 95% CI; 1.78, 4.91). Mothers who were housewives were 55% times less likely to feed their sick child appropriately than those who were working (AOR: 0.45; 95% CI; 0.26, 0.79). Those mothers who have a child aged less than 6 months were 88% less likely to practice appropriate sick child feeding than those who have a child aged more than 6 months (AOR: 0.22; 95% CI; 0.12,0.40). Conclusion. Respondents who do not receive counseling on infant and young child feeding have poor sick child feeding practice. Working mother had owned better practices of feeding child particularly at the time of illness. Infants below the age of 6 months deserve more concern in providing frequent breastfeeds at the time of illness.

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Off to the best start: The importance of infant and young child feeding

10.2499/9780896295889_03 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Keyword(s):

Young Child ◽

Child Feeding ◽

Young Child Feeding ◽

Infant And Young Child

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Qualitative, longitudinal exploration of coping strategies and factors facilitating infant and young child feeding practices among mothers in rural Rwanda

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-020-10095-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jeanine Ahishakiye ◽

Lenneke Vaandrager ◽

Inge D. Brouwer ◽

Maria Koelen

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Young Child ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Low Income ◽

Complementary Feeding ◽

Feeding Practices ◽

Personal Factors ◽

Child Feeding ◽

Young Child Feeding ◽

Infant And Young Child

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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Mothers’ perceptions on and learning from infant and young child feeding videos displayed in Mother and Child Health Centers in Kenya - a qualitative and quantitative approach

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980021002342 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-38

Author(s):

Lauriina Schneider ◽

Mikko Kosola ◽

Kerttu Uusimäki ◽

Sari Ollila ◽

Crippina Lubeka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Child ◽

Complementary Feeding ◽

Health Centers ◽

Child Feeding ◽

Young Child Feeding ◽

Infant And Young Child ◽

Mother And Child Health ◽

Mother And Child ◽

And Child Health ◽

Child Health Centers

Abstract Objective The objective was to explore mothers’ perceptions of educational videos on infant and young child feeding practices, and to assess whether viewing frequencies would influence maternal knowledge, attitudes and feeding practices (KAPs). Design A set of 47 videos were displayed in health centers for 6 months. At three months, we conducted focus group discussions (FGDs) with mothers and at six months, administered KAP-questionnaire-based interviews to mothers. Using a quasi-experimental design we compared groups according to video viewing frequencies. Setting The study was conducted in a slum in Nairobi and a rural area in Machakos, Kenya. We installed TV screens in waiting rooms of six Mother and Child Health Centers, where mothers could choose to watch them. Participants Forty-three mothers with children aged 0 to 48 months participated in six FGDs and 547 mothers of children aged 0 to 23 months in KAP interviews. Results The mothers from the FGDs found the videos acceptable and beneficial. Videos enhanced mothers’ learning and empowered them to support others in learning. The KAP data showed that after adjustments, breastfeeding (p=0.06) and complementary feeding knowledge (p=0.01), complementary feeding attitudes (p=0.08), as well as hygiene knowledge and practices (p=0.003) were better among mothers who had seen videos three to four times, or five or more times, compared to mothers who had seen the videos once or twice. Conclusions Videos were an accepted form of education and were beneficial when watched repeatedly. The videos could be a good addition to current IYCF education efforts in Kenya.

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