Influence of Food Practices for Infant and Young Children on Gowth Parameters in Kouilou-Congo

Abstract

In the Republic of Congo in general and in the department of Kouilou in particular, a variety of complementary foods are used which are introduced into infants and young children. The general objective of this study is to assess the timely introduction, frequency and diversity of complementary foods in infants and young children 0-2 years of age in the Madingou-Kayes district. To do this, a cross-sectional questionnaire survey was carried out on a sample of 129 children from the eight villages visited in the Madingo-Kayes district. The data focused on breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices. Breastfeeding overall is 98% with colostrum intake 31%. 70% of children were still breastfeeding during the survey. The complementary food through the porridge was introduced to 69% of children between 3-5 months and stopped at 36% between 6-8 months. The porridge consumed by children is traditional and imported. The flour used to make traditional porridge consisted of corn, cassava. Corn is the first choice flour, 75% of children were under consumption according to the survey. These porridges have a daily consumption frequency of 2 porridges per day. The nutritional status of children is generally unsatisfactory. In fact, 56% are underweight, 65% are stunted and 29% are wasted or thin. In short, infant feeding during the period of complementary feeding remains to this day a major subject of public health in developing countries. The feeding practices of children from 0 to 2 years old in the Madingo-Kayes district are below the recommendations of the World Health Organization and are at the origin of various forms of malnutrition observed in children.