scholarly journals Feasibility of using WeChat to improve infant and young child feeding in rural areas in China: A mixed quantitative and qualitative study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0246942
Author(s):  
Qiong Wu ◽  
Yiwen Huang ◽  
Michelle Helena van Velthoven ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Suying Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Child ◽  
Infant Feeding ◽  
Child Nutrition ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
Child Feeding ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Young Child Feeding ◽  
Infant And Young Child ◽  
Education Platform

Background Appropriate infant and young child feeding practices are the basis for child nutrition. In China, WeChat is gradually changing the channels through which people receive information. The paper aims to explore the feasibility of using WeChat to improve infant and young child feeding in rural China. Methods A mixed-methods study was carried out in Huzhu County, Qinghai province, China. We conducted two cross-sectional surveys with children aged 6–23 months and their caregivers in 2012 (N = 1804) and 2018 (N = 754), respectively. Quantitative data were collected on feeding knowledge and practices, caregiver’s use of smartphones and WeChat. Qualitative data were from 33 semi-structured interviews with pregnant women and mothers. In addition, we developed a WeChat feeding health education platform and asked women about their experiences with using it. Results In both cross-sectional surveys, less than 10% of caregivers knew that breastfeeding can be continued up to two years, less than 50% knew the accurate duration of exclusive breastfeeding, and only around 20% knew meat can be given to children from the age of 6–8 months. Similarly, the feeding practices were suboptimal and most key infant feeding practices did not change over the years. Only around 30% of caregivers ever received feeding information during pregnancy or after delivery in both surveys. Around 50% of caregivers received information from their relatives and friends, followed by 30% from health facilities and communities. More than 80% of mothers were currently using both a smartphone and the WeChat app, and 75.4% of them were willing to receive feeding information from WeChat official accounts. The WeChat feeding health education platform developed by our study team was generally well accepted by women. Conclusions There was an absence of accurate information sources on infant feeding and child nutrition. WeChat could be a potential way to deliver infant feeding recommendations to pregnant women and mothers in rural China. Trial registration ChiCTR-PRC-11001446 (The controlled intervention trial for complementary food supplements “Yingyangbao”); ChiCTR1800017364 (the randomized controlled trial for WeChat)

scholarly journals WeChat can be a potential way to deliver infant and young child feeding recommendations in rural areas in China: A mixed quantitative and qualitative study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiong Wu ◽  
Yiwen Huang ◽  
Michelle Helena van Velthoven ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Suying Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Education ◽  
Young Child ◽  
Infant Feeding ◽  
Child Nutrition ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
Child Feeding ◽  
Young Child Feeding ◽  
Infant And Young Child ◽  
Education Platform

Abstract Background Appropriate infant and young child feeding practices are the basis for child nutrition, which can be influenced by mothers’ exposure to health promotion messages. In China, WeChat is gradually changing the channels people receive information. This paper aims to explore the feasibility of using WeChat as an intervention to improve Infant and young child feeding in rural China. Methods A mixed-methods study was carried out in Huzhu County, Qinghai province, China. Quantitative data were from two cross-sectional surveys with children aged 6-23 months and their caregivers to collected feeding knowledge and practices, caregiver’s use of smartphones and WeChat in 2012 (N=1804) and 2018 (N=754), respectively. Qualitative data were from 33 semi-structured interviews with pregnant women and mothers. In addition, we developed a WeChat feeding health education platform and asked women for their using experiences. Results In both surveys, less than 10% of caregivers knew that breastfeeding can be continued up to two years, less than 50% knew the accurate duration of exclusive breastfeeding, and only around 20% knew meat should be given to children from the age of 6-8 months. Similarly, the feeding practices were suboptimal and most key infant feeding practices did not change over the years. In both surveys, only around 30% of caregivers ever received feeding information during pregnancy or after delivery. Among them, around 50% of caregivers received from their relatives and friends, followed 30% from health facilities and communities. More than 80% of mothers were currently using both a smartphone and the WeChat app. Mothers could easily access the internet on their smartphones (90.8%), as WiFi was available at home or at the workplace. Furthermore, 75.4% of them were willing to receive feeding information from WeChat official accounts. The WeChat feeding health education platform was generally accepted by pregnant women and mothers. Conclusions Caregivers’ feeding knowledge and practices were poor in Huzhu County, and there was an absence of accurate information sources on infant feeding and child nutrition. WeChat could be a potential way to deliver infant feeding recommendations to mothers in rural China.

scholarly journals A cross sectional study on optimal infant and young child feeding practices with reference to WHO indicators in a rural area of Puducherry

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 1684
Author(s):  
Arulprasad Radjasegarane ◽  
Anandaraj Rajagopal ◽  
Prakash Mathiyalagen ◽  
Kavita Vasudevan
Keyword(s):  
Young Child ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Child Feeding ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Young Child Feeding ◽  
Child Feeding Practices ◽  
Infant And Young Child ◽  
One Year

Background: Optimal infant and young child feeding practices (IYCF) are essential to address the increasing burden of malnutrition and for the overall development of the children. The present study was conducted to estimate the proportion of optimal infant and young child feeding practices among rural children aged 0 to 23 months and study the associated socio demographic factors.Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 360 children in the age group of 0 to 23 months in a rural field practice area of a medical college in Puducherry. Data on IYCF practices were collected using a standardized tool developed by WHO. Core and optional IYCF indicators were calculated. Chi-square test and Fishers’ exact test were used as tests of significance.Results: Almost 88.0% of infants were initiated early on breastfeeding and 90.8% were exclusively breastfed for six months. Children who were continuously breastfed at one year and two years were 77.4% and 22.4% respectively. About 75.0% were introduced with solid or semisolid foods at 6 to 8 months of age. Among children aged 6 to 23 months, 77.3% had the recommended minimum dietary diversity, 81.3% had the minimum meal frequencies, while 57.7% received the minimum acceptable diet and only 39.4% consumed iron rich foods. Gender was significantly associated with the practice of continued breastfeeding at one year, adequate minimum dietary diversity and minimum meal frequency.Conclusions: The core and optional IYCF indicators were acceptably good in the initial six months of life but thereafter showed suboptimal levels, which should be emphasized among the mothers or primary care givers.

scholarly journals Mothers’ adherence to optimal infant and young child feeding practices in Uganda: a cross-sectional study

F1000Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 877
Author(s):  
Zabinah Nabirye ◽  
Frank Kiwanuka ◽  
Zainah Nakaye ◽  
Ivan Kamurasi ◽  
Agbele Alaba Tolulope
Keyword(s):  
Young Child ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Child Feeding ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Town Council ◽  
Young Child Feeding ◽  
Child Feeding Practices ◽  
Infant And Young Child

Background: The benefits of adherence to optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) to both the mothers and their infants below two years are well documented. However, compliance to optimal IYCF practices has been noted to vary in different settings. This study sought to establish factors influencing mothers’ adherence to optimal infant and young child feeding practices for babies below two years in Mpigi town council- Mpigi District. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study carried out among 264 mothers of babies between six months to two years of age attending postnatal care units of health facilities in Mpigi town council, Uganda: Mpigi Health Center (HC) IV and Kyaali HC III. Purposive sampling method was used to select the health centers while simple random sampling was then used to select the sample from the selected centers. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data entry and analysis was performed using SPSS version 16. Results: 264 participants were invited to participate in the study, 100% of these fully completed the survey. The majority of the mothers were aged 20 to 34 years (80.3%). After scoring each participant using the four characteristics which included: initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour following birth, exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months followed by continued breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods upto 2 years and beyond, the majority of the participants were adherent (79.6%) to IYCF practices while 20.4% were non adherent to IYCF practices. Conclusion: A good estimate of adherence to optimal IYCF practices was revealed in this study. Sustaining well-established policies to support IYCF programmes is recommended to maintain optimal IYCF practices.

scholarly journals Infant and Young Child Feeding by Mothers in a Selected Rural Area of Mymensingh

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-25
Author(s):  
Sultana Sobnam Dipu ◽  
Md Tufael Hossain ◽  
Maksuda Begum ◽  
AHM Hasan ◽  
Fakir Sameul Alam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Young Child ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Rural Area ◽  
Breast Feeding ◽  
Child Nutrition ◽  
Child Feeding ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Young Child Feeding ◽  
Infant And Young Child

This study was done to know about infant and young child feeding by mothers in a selected rural area of Mymensingh and to assess nutritional status of infant and young child. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The sample size was 625. Sample size and study area was purposively selected. The study was conducted from December 2016 to January 2017 in Churkhai and Winnerpar villages of Bhavokhali union of Sadar upazila Mymensingh. Data were collected on a predesigned questionnaire by direct interviewing the respondents. Data analysis was done by SPSS version 16. A total of 625 mothers who had one child aged between newborn to 24 months participated in the study. Age of mothers ranged from 15 years to 50 years. Mean age of mothers was 24.56 years and standard deviation 5.36 years. Most of the mothers belonged to 15 to 24 years of age. The age of children ranged from newborn to 24 months. Mean age of children was 15.16 months, standard deviation 7.51 months. Majority of children belonged to 19 to 24 months. Majority (54.72%) had normal nutrition. Breast feeding continued up to the age when interviewed, offering colostrums and breast feeding given within half an hour after delivery were excellent among 63.36% of mothers. Weaning in due time, appropriate servings and weaning food appropriate were excellent among 74.80% of mothers of weaning age child. Exclusive breast feeding 74.02% and breast feeding continued up to the age of 24 months were 79.33% were good. Infant and Young Child Feeding practices observed in this study though better than other studies, needs more attention for improved child nutrition and survival. CBMJ 2016 July: Vol. 05 No. 02 P: 21-25

scholarly journals A study on feeding practices among mothers with children aged less than two years in rural area of Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 3471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fasna Liaquath Ali ◽  
Ravivarman Govindasamy ◽  
Suganthi Soubramanian
Keyword(s):  
Young Child ◽  
Rural Area ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Child Feeding ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Young Child Feeding ◽  
Child Feeding Practices ◽  
Infant And Young Child

Background: Adequate nutrition in first 24 months through optimal Infant and Young Child feeding is fundamental for the development of the child. Hence assessment of Infant and Young child feeding practices rank among the most effective intervention is to meet the deficit improve the child health. Hence this study is conducted with the objective to assess the prevalence and factors influencing infant and young child feeding practices among the rural mothers of children aged less than two years.Methods: A cross sectional study was undertaken in the rural area of Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu from January 2017 to August 2017. 247 children of age less than two years were selected by two stage random sampling method. Data was collected house to house using pretested questionnaire and WHO infant and young child feeding questionnaire. Proportions were calculated and Chi square was applied.Results: The median age of the study participants were 9±7.1 months. 226 (91.5 %) were given colostrum and 163 (66%) were initiated breastfeeding within one hour after birth. 58.6% of children were introduced on soft/solid/semi solid food at the end of 6 to 8 months. In multiple logistic regression education of the mother, working status of the mother, number of antennal visits and place of delivery were associated with appropriate feeding practices.Conclusions: Maternal decision determines how an infant to be fed but it reflects the atmosphere by how they are influenced and adopted the decision. 

scholarly journals Infant- and Young Child-feeding Practices in Mongolia To Assess the Indicators of Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices Among 0- 23 Months Old Children (P04-161-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Otgonjargal Damdinbaljir
Keyword(s):  
Young Child ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
Cluster Sampling ◽  
Child Feeding ◽  
International Consensus ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Young Child Feeding ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Child Feeding Practices ◽  
Infant And Young Child

Abstract Objectives To assess the indicators of infant and young child feeding practices among 0- 23 months old children. Methods This cross-sectional studies was conducted all 21 provinces of the 4 economic regions of the country and capital Ulaanbaatar city in 2017. In total, 350 children aged less than two years selected through revised 125-cluster sampling using of the indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices were revised during the International Consensus Meeting organized be WHO in 2007 Results The proportions of infants with early initiation of breastfeeding (83.7%) and exclusive breastfeeding under six months (58.3%) and the prevalence continued breastfeeding at 2 years 47.3% were low. Conclusions The main problems revealed from the study were inappropriate complementary feeding practices. Our findings have highlighted the need to encourage mothers to enrich their traditional wheat- based complementary foods add more animal source foods and vegetables. Funding Sources The financial and technical support from UNICEF. Supporting Tables, Images and/or Graphs

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

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Saizuddin ◽  
Md Shaidul Hasan
Keyword(s):  
Young Child ◽  
Exclusive Breastfeeding ◽  
Complementary Feeding ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
Child Feeding ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Young Child Feeding ◽  
Infant And Young Child ◽  
Rural Mothers ◽  
Initiation Of Breastfeeding

Background: Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices play vital role for the growth & development in the early months of life. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to determine and to identify the patterns and influencing factors of feeding practices in infant and young children of 0-2 years old in Bangladesh. Methodology: 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 to December of 2015.Result: 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 were 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 30.7% had three or more children.Conclusion: Majority of the respondents have the knowledge on complementary feeding, knowledge on preparation of complementary feeding, knowledge on preparation of food by grains, knowledge on preparation of food by milk and milk products and knowledge on preparation of food by meat, fish, poultry, liver.Journal of National Institute of Neurosciences Bangladesh, 2016;2(1):19-25

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document