Effects of an integrated intervention on the nutritional status and IYCF practices under two years of children in the southern part of Bangladesh

Objective: The significance of appropriate infant and young children feeding (IYCF) to ensure proper nutrition for children is well-documented. Although nutrition interventions with agricultural components have the potential, the evidence for this relationship is insufficient. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of an integrated health-based intervention on the dietary pattern and nutritional status of children under two years of age. Methodology: This study was a pre-post analysis of secondary data of the project titled “Integrated Agriculture and Health-Based Interventions for Improved Food and Nutrition Security in Selected Districts of Southern Bangladesh”, which were collected from Barisal and Khulna district. We used data of 268 children aged 0-23 months from baseline and 554 children from endline which comprised the study population to assess socio-demographic, anthropometric and IYCF indicators. Further, horticulture, cooking and hygiene indices were created to analyze the effectiveness of the project interventions. Results: A significant reduction of stunting and underweight and insignificant reduction of wasting were observed from baseline to end line. Compared to baseline, the horticulture index, hygiene index and cooking index differ significantly between the baseline and end line surveys. Further, significant improvement of 6 months exclusive breastfeeding and insignificant improvement of continued breastfeeding up to 1 year were found from baseline to end line. Conclusion: This study shows that integrated agriculture and health-based interventions with nutrition components have a positive impact on stunting and underweight but exert a mixed effect on wasting and IYCF practices. Bioresearch Commu. 8(1): 1077-1087, 2022 (January)

Proximate analysis and formulation of weaning food using germinated cereals, pulses and ground nut

A combination of nutritionally inferior diets and improper feeding practices are major contributing factors to the development of childhood malnutrition. Complementary feeding improvement should be of highest priority for nutrition of infant and young children containing all essential nutrients at required amount. The objective of this study was designed to investigate the inclusion of weaning food formulation and evaluating compositional and functional properties of the products. The analysis undertaken in this study was infant food formulation, proximate composition, mineral concentration and sensory properties. The moisture content in this study ranged from 1.49 ± 0.12 to 3.89 ±0.12, crude protein from 15.09 ± 0.05 to 16.79± 0.01, crude fat from 11.11 ± 0.07 to 12.80 ± 0.00, total ash from 2.06 ± 0.03 to 2.21 ± 0.00, carbohydrate from 65.9740 ± 0.24 to 68.2641 ± 0.14 and energy value ranged from 431.68 ± 0.05 to 449.18 ± 0.57. From the result provided, sample-A contained the highest protein, moisture, fat content than sample-B. But carbohydrate and energy are highest in sample-B than sample-A. The two macro minerals mg/100 g of Ca and Zn in the study were ranged from lower 0.60±0.07 to 0.79±0.01 and 1.05±0.01 to 2.44±0.06 respectively. Beta-carotene is varied from 0.90±o.01 to 1.17±0.00. Sensory parameters such as colour, appearance, texture, taste, aroma and overall acceptability is high in sample-A than to sample-B. Finally, from the general trend observed in this study that both the weaning foods prepared from cereal, legume, pulse flour provided better nutritional and functional compositions to meet nutrient dense of infant foods. Asian Australas. J. Food Saf. Secur. 2021, 5 (2), 32-42

Maternal Attributes and Child Minimum Acceptable Diet during COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia

<p>Appropriate complementary feeding practices must be sustained during the COVID-19 pandemic for optimal growth and development of a child. However, the studies assessing factors associated with complementary feeding practices during COVID-19 are still limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate maternal attributes and minimum acceptable diet (MAD) of 6-11-month-old children during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. This study was part of the “COVID-19 Mom-Infant Study” and was conducted in all regions of Indonesia using an online survey. Chi-square or Fisher's exact test was performed to examine the relationship between MAD and maternal attributes, with a significant level at p-value &lt;0.05. From a total of 262 data collected, 74%, 77.1%, 94.3% of the children aged 6-11 months have met MAD, MDD (minimum dietary diversity), and MMF (minimum meal frequency), respectively. Mother’s education level (OR= 3.625; 95%CI [1.805 – 7.280]) and working status (OR= 2.197; 95%CI [1.291 – 3.895] were found associated with child’s MAD. One-third of children did not receive the recommended infant and young children feeding practices. Conducting nutrition interventions to mothers with lower education and not working should be a priority under these circumstances.</p>

Association of infant and young child feeding practices and acute lower respiratory infections

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.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Towards Exclusive Breast Feeding Among Inhabitants of Ginjo Guduru Kebele, Jimma Town, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Appropriate feeding practices are fundamental importance for the survival, growth, development and health of the infant and young children. However; exclusive breastfeeding remains a challenge because of many factors. It was suggested that mother's knowledge, attitude and practice determines the effectiveness of exclusive breastfeeding. This research is a cross-sectional study aimed to assesses mother's knowledge, attitude and practice towards optimal breastfeeding among Ginjo Guduru kebele. The survey was conducted from June 29-July30, 2018, from a total of 315 mothers who had children under one (1) year age, 190 mothers were selected using simple random sampling. Structured pre-tested questionnaires, as well as the in-depth interview, was used to collect the data on the socio-economic, demographic characteristics, knowledge attitude and practice towards exclusive breastfeeding. Among mothers studied about 73.94% had good knowledge of effective breastfeeding, 63.99% of mothers had a positive attitude on effective breastfeeding, and 69.69% had a good practice of effective breastfeeding. About 24.06% of mothers had poor knowledge of effective breastfeeding, approximately 36.11% of mothers had a poor level of attitude on effective breastfeeding, and about 31.31% of mothers had a poor practice of effective breastfeeding. Health service delivery staffs Policymakers, administrators and Non-governmental organisation collaborates to draw strategies to enhance the awareness of mothers about effective breastfeeding.