Abstract
Appropriate infant and young child feeding could reduce morbidity and mortality and could improve cognitive development of children. However, nationwide data on exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding status in China are scarce. The aim of this study was to assess current exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding status in China. A national representative survey (Chinese National Nutrition and Health Survey) of children aged under 6 years was done in 2013. Stratified multistage cluster sampling was used to select study participants. World Health Organization (WHO) infant and young child feeding indicators were firstly used to assess exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding practice nationwide. In total, 14,458 children aged under two years (0 to <730 days) were studied from 55 counties in 30 provinces in China. The crude exclusive breastfeeding rate under 6 months was 20.7% (908/4381) and the weighted exclusive breastfeeding rate was 18.6%. The crude prevalence of minimum dietary diversity, minimum meal frequency and minimum acceptable diet were 52.5% (5286/10,071), 69.8% (7027/10,071), and 27.4% (2764/10,071) among children aged 6–23 months, respectively. The weighted rate was 53.7%, 69.1%, and 25.1%, respectively. Residential area, household income and maternal education were positively associated with the three complementary feeding indicators. The exclusive breastfeeding rate under 6 months was low and complementary feeding practice was not optimal in China. Residential area, household income and maternal education might be used to target infants and young children to improve complementary feeding practice.
Highlights
IntroductionMalnutrition (undernutrition, micronutrient deficiency and overweight/obesity) during this period could increase the risk of morbidity and mortality [2]
The first 1000 days is a critical period for good human nutrition, health and development, of which the benefit could last throughout the whole life [1].Malnutrition during this period could increase the risk of morbidity and mortality [2]
The crude rate of exclusive breastfeeding under 6 months was 20.7% and the weighted rate was 18.6%
Summary
Malnutrition (undernutrition, micronutrient deficiency and overweight/obesity) during this period could increase the risk of morbidity and mortality [2]. Appropriate infant and young child feeding is a prerequisite for optimal child nutrition, health and development [3]. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months and complementary foods should be introduced after that with continued breastfeeding until two years or beyond [4]. Suboptimal breastfeeding could cause 804,000 child deaths or 11.6% of total child deaths globally [2]. The prevalence of malnutrition decreased dramatically for children under five years during the past two decades in China, it remains high during the complementary feeding period [8]
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