scholarly journals Effectiveness of peer counseling and membership in breastfeeding support groups in promoting optimal breastfeeding behaviors in the Philippines

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ofelia P Saniel ◽  
Veincent Christian F Pepito ◽  
Arianna Maever L Amit

Abstract Background: The prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF)and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) remain low in the Philippines. To help meet the 90% EIBF target and to improve infant and young child feeding practices in the Philippines, the Millennium Development Goals - Fund 2030 Joint Programme (JP) on Ensuring Food Security and Nutrition for Children 0-24 months old was implemented. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of visits by a peer counselor during pregnancy and after delivery, and membership in breastfeeding support groups in promoting these optimal breastfeeding practices. We also aimed to examine the interaction between these two activities to assess their joint effects on both EIBF and EBF.Methods: We used data from the Endline Survey of the Joint Program , which collected socioeconomic data from the households of the mother-infant dyads, demographic characteristics of the mothers, and their particular infant and young child feeding practices. We used logistic regression methods for survey data to study these associations.Results: Out of the 2,343 mother-infant dyads, only 1,500 (63.1%) practiced EIBF and only 624 (27.9%) practiced EBF. After controlling for confounders, those who were visited by a peer counselor during the prenatal period had 1.32 times greater odds of practicing EIBF (95%CI: 0.96, 1.80) and 0.91 times lower odds (aOR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.68, 1.22) of practicing EBF compared to those who were not visited. The association between visits by a peer counselor and EIBF was weak and statistically insignificant. The odds of EBF was also 26% higher among those who were visited by peer counselors after delivery (aOR: 1.26; 95% CI: 0.90, 1.75), but this association was also weak and statistically not significant. Members of breastfeeding support groups had 1.49 times higher odds of EIBF (95% CI: 1.12, 1.98) and 1.59 times higher odds of EBF (95% CI: 1.21, 2.10) compared to those who were not members of breastfeeding support groups; both associations were statistically significant. However, there was no interaction between the different exposure variables on their effects on EIBF and EBF. Conclusions: Breastfeeding support groups may be institutionalized to promote both EIBF and EBF in the Philippines. The role of peer counselors in promoting optimal breastfeeding behaviors should be further reviewed in light of the findings of this study.

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ofelia P. Saniel ◽  
Veincent Christian F. Pepito ◽  
Arianna Maever L. Amit

Abstract Background The prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) at 6 months remain low in the Philippines. To help meet the 90% early initiation of breastfeeding target and to improve infant and young child feeding practices in the Philippines, the Millennium Development Goals - Fund 2030 Joint Programme (JP) on Ensuring Food Security and Nutrition for Children 0–24 months old was implemented. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of visits by peer counselors during pregnancy and after delivery, and membership in breastfeeding support groups in promoting these optimal breastfeeding practices. Methods We used data from the Endline Survey of the JP to study the effects of prenatal and postnatal peer counselor visits, and membership in breastfeeding support groups, and their possible interactions with initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth among children aged 0 to 24 months and EBF at 6 months among children aged 6 to 24 months, while adjusting for confounding. We used logistic regression methods for survey data to assess these associations. Results Of the 2343 mother-infant pairs, only 1500 (63.1%) practiced early initiation of breastfeeding. Of the 1865 children aged 6 months or older, only 621 (34.7%) were exclusively breastfed at 6 months. After adjusting for confounding variables, there was no strong evidence that peer counselor visits were associated with early initiation or EBF at 6 months. However, members of breastfeeding support groups had 1.49 times higher odds of early initiation of breastfeeding (95% CI [Confidence Interval] 1.12, 1.98) and 1.65 times higher odds of EBF (95% CI 1.20, 2.24) compared to those who were not members of breastfeeding support groups. There was no interaction between the different exposure variables and early initiation and EBF at 6 months. Conclusions Our findings suggest breastfeeding support groups may be institutionalized to promote both early initiation of breastfeeding and EBF in the Philippines, while the role of peer counselors in promoting optimal breastfeeding behaviors should be further reviewed. Our suggestion to integrate non-healthcare professionals to promote early initiation of breastfeeding and EBF could be tested in future intervention studies.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. e109181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Komal P. Kushwaha ◽  
Jhuma Sankar ◽  
M. Jeeva Sankar ◽  
Arun Gupta ◽  
J. P. Dadhich ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ofelia P Saniel ◽  
Veincent Christian F Pepito ◽  
Arianna Maever L Amit

Abstract Background: Early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF), defined as initiation of breastfeeding within one hour after giving birth, is one of the recommended optimal breastfeeding practices. We aimed to determine whether being visited by a peer counselor during pregnancy and if mother’s membership in a breastfeeding support group are associated with EIBF. We also aimed to examine the interaction between the two main exposure variables to assess their joint effects on EIBF.Methods: We used data from the endline survey of a program implemented in the Philippines, which contained socioeconomic data from the household of the mother-newborn dyads, demographic characteristics of the mothers, and their infant and young child feeding practices. We used logistic regression methods for survey data to study these associations.Results: Out of the 2,343 newborns, only 1,500 (63.1%) had EIBF. Upon controlling for confounders, those who were visited by a peer counselor during the prenatal period had 1.18 times greater odds of EIBF (95%CI: 0.88-1.57; p=0.26) compared to those who were not visited. On the other hand, members of breastfeeding support groups had 1.33 times higher odds of EIBF (95% CI: 0.99-1.79; p=0.06) compared to those who were not members of breastfeeding support groups. There is no interaction between the two exposure variables on their effect on EIBF. Conclusions: The lack of association between a visit by a peer counselor during pregnancy or mother’s membership in breastfeeding support groups and EIBF highlights the need for new strategies to enhance the role of peer counselors and breastfeeding support groups in promoting breastfeeding.


2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nigatu Regassa Geda ◽  
Cindy Xin Feng ◽  
Bonnie Janzen ◽  
Rein Lepnurm ◽  
Carol J. Henry ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Undernutrition among children is a priority area of public health concern in Ethiopia. The purpose of this study was to examine disparities in Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices among children 6–23 months. Method Data were drawn from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS). A total of 3240 children aged 6–23 months were used for the present analysis. The outcome variable was IYCF practice score (ranging 0–7) which was constructed based on the linear and combined effects of four sets of variables: breastfeeding, avoidance of bottle feeding, diet diversity score and minimum feeding frequency. IYCF practice score was further recoded into three categories. Proportional odds regression was used to assess the determinants of IYCF category. Results The proportional odds regression analysis showed that IYCF scores significantly decreased by 5% (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 0.95; 95% CI: 0.93–0.97) for every unit increase in the child’s age. Households with fathers of primary and secondary and above level education were 1.37 times (95% CI: 1.14–1.66) and 1.67 times (95% CI: 1.26–2.23) more likely to be in the high IYCF category than in the poor IYCF category. The likelihood of being in the high IYCF practice category decreased for non-working mothers by 30% (AOR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.59–0.83) compared to those working in gainful employment. The chance of being in the high IYCF practice category decreased by 29% for households with no access to radio (AOR = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.59–0.85). Those with medium and rich/richer wealth category were 1.54 times (95% CI: 1.22–1.94) and 1.40 times (95% CI: 1.11–1.75) more likely to belong to high IYCF practice category than being in poor IYCF category. For every unit increase in health service utilization, the chance of falling in higher IYCF category increases by 1.15 times (95% CI: 1.08–1.23). The chance of falling in higher IYCF practice category decreases for rural residents by 37% (AOR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.47–0.84) compared to those residing in urban areas. Conclusion For a child, the first two years is the time span during which linear faltering of growth is most prevalent and the period when the process of becoming stunted is almost complete. This study recommends improving access to women for gainful employment, provision of economic support to poor rural women, education and promotion of nutrition messages using most accessible media and boosting the positive role of fathers in child feeding practices.


Author(s):  
Arulprasad Radjasegarane ◽  
Anandaraj Rajagopal ◽  
Prakash Mathiyalagen ◽  
Kavita Vasudevan

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.


2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 301 ◽  
Author(s):  
AmirMaroof Khan ◽  
Priscilla Kayina ◽  
Paras Agrawal ◽  
Anita Gupta ◽  
AnjurTupil Kannan

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 58-62
Author(s):  
Ramesh Shrestha ◽  
Ved Prasad Bhandari ◽  
Laxman Datt Bhatt

Introduction: Child feeding practices have a direct consequence on the nutritional status of children under two year which ultimately have impact on child survival. Socio-cultural barriers is one of the main factors in infant and young child feeding in various community. This study aims to explore socio-cultural barriers of infant and young child feeding practices among mothers of Kumal community in Nuwakot district. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among mother of 6-23 months children’s in Kumal community. Data was collected from 67 respondents through face-to-face interview. The collected data was entered in Epi-data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS, version 20. Results: Our study reveals that 83.6% of the respondents had initiated early breastfeeding. More than half (56.7%) of the respondents had exclusive breastfeeding and 97% had extended breastfeeding. Half (50.7%) of the respondents introduce complementary feeding in time, sex of child was associated with exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding. Similarly, size of household, mother and father education was associated with continuation of breastfeeding practice. Conclusions: The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding is still low due to many factors and one being socio cultural practices and beliefs. Interventions that can hit the socio-cultural beliefs should be given priority to exterminate the socio-cultural taboos from root level.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document