Simplifying Complementary Feeding Practices: Experimental Evidence from Rural India

Author(s):  
Shardul Vaidya
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Nikki Kumari ◽  
Khodaija Mahvish ◽  
Binod Kr Singh

Background and objectives: Complementary feeding (CF) means introducing other foods when breast milk alone is not enough to meet the nutritional requirements of infants. WHO recommends starting complementary feeding after 6 months of age while continuing breast feeding up to 2 years of age for continued benefits. WHO also emphasizes on diet diversity to ensure a heterogeneous nutrient intake that provides all nutrients needed by the growing infant. In context of rural India, in-depth studies of complementary feeding practices are limited, revealing a clear knowledge gap. The present study was undertaken to assess the complementary feeding practices and factors influencing them among mothers of 6-24 months children. Methodology: This hospital based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted over 2 years from April 2018-March 2020 including children aged >6 months and <24 months belonging to rural area visiting OPD or admitted in I.P.D of our hospital. Data was collected by direct interviewing of mothers regarding various aspects of breastfeeding and complementary feeding. Results: Over the study period, we enrolled 226 children in our study. Mean age was 9.7 months (SD 3.4months). Male: female ratio was 1.3:1. Mean age of mothers was 24.1 ± 4.2 years. Breastfeeding was initiated within 1 hour of birth in only 118(52.2%) babies. Complementary feeds were started at the end of 6 months in dismally low 21.2% children. It was started between 6-9 months in 38.5%, 9-12 months in 25.7% and after 12 months in 7.5% children. Proportion of infants getting minimal meal frequency was 59.3%, minimum dietary diversity only 45.6% and minimum acceptable diet only 47.8%%. The most commonly used complementary food was milk and milk & cereal based preparations (61.5%). There was a statistically significant positive association between socioeconomic class and correct time of initiating CF as well as maternal education and minimum acceptable diet (p <0.01). However, a significant negative association was found between working mother and proper consistency of feeds (p<0.01). Conclusion: Our findings clearly indicate that lot more needs to be done for rural children. Whenever there is opportunity for health care workers, mothers should be educated about proper complementary feeding practices.


2001 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 328-332
Author(s):  
M. Vaahtera, T. Kulmala, A. Hietanen,

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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (S3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvia Fernandez Rao ◽  
Margaret E. Bentley ◽  
Nagalla Balakrishna ◽  
Paula Griffiths ◽  
Hilary Creed‐Kanashiro ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 669-678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abukari I Issaka ◽  
Kingsley E Agho ◽  
Penelope Burns ◽  
Andrew Page ◽  
Michael J Dibley

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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