Trends in Complementary Feeding Indicators and Intake from Specific Food Groups among Children Aged 6–23 Months in Bangladesh

Sabuj Kanti Mistry,Md Belal Hossain,Amit Arora,Manika Saha,Nafis Md Irfan,Silvia Saberin,Abu Ahmed Shamim

doi:10.3390/ijerph19010550

Abstract

The present study aims to comprehensively analyse trends in complementary feeding indicators (Introduction of solid, semi-solid, and soft foods at 6–8 months (INTRO), Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD), Minimum Meal Frequency (MMF) and Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD)) among children aged 6–23 months in Bangladesh. The study used data from four rounds (2007, 2011, 2014, and 2017–2018) of nationally representative Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys (BDHSs). The Cochran–Armitage test was performed to capture the trends in complementary feeding practices and intake from specific food groups. BDHSs are periodically conducted cross-sectional surveys in all seven administrative divisions of Bangladesh. The present analysis was performed among 8116 children (1563 in 2007, 2137 in 2011, 2249 in 2014, and 2167 in 2017–2018) aged 6–23 months. Overall, a decreasing trend was observed in all the complementary feeding indicators except INTRO from 2007 to 2014, but a substantial increase in MDD, MMF and MAD was noted in 2017–2018. A statistically significant reduction in consumption from different food groups such as legumes and nuts (p < 0.001), dairy products (p = 0.001), vitamin-A-rich fruits or vegetables (p < 0.001), and other fruits and vegetables (p < 0.001) was also observed. However, a positive trend was noted in the consumption of grains/roots/tubers (p = 0.027), and meat/fish/egg (p < 0.001). After experiencing a significant decreasing trend during 2007–2014, the recent BDHS indicates improvements in all complementary feeding indicators among young children in Bangladesh, which calls for integrated, multisectoral, and multicomponent interventions to sustain this progress.

Highlights

Malnutrition is among the significant public health challenges among young children in low- and middle-income countries
There is an estimate that 6% of all deaths in children under the age of 5 years in developing countries can be prevented if appropriate complementary feeding practices are followed [5]
The trends of Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) among 6–23 months aged children are shown in Table 1 and a significantly increasing trend was observed in all strata except that of the Rajshahi Division, where a not significantly increasing trend was noted

Summary

Introduction

Malnutrition is among the significant public health challenges among young children in low- and middle-income countries. Children are at an increased risk of malnutrition after 6 months of life as, at this stage, the mother’s milk alone is no longer sufficient to meet the energy and nutritional requirements for infants [4]. This transition from exclusive breastfeeding to family foods, starting around the period of 6 months of age and continuing until 24 months, is referred to as complementary feeding [3]. Timely introducing complementary feeding and giving nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods starting at the period of six months is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) [6].

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion