Breastfeeding Practices Research Articles

Unveiling Reproductive Health Challenges: A Qualitative Assessment to Explore Menstrual Hygiene, Breastfeeding, and Complementary Feeding Practices & Restrictions among Women in Himachal Pradesh

Unveiling Reproductive Health Challenges: A Qualitative Assessment to Explore Menstrual Hygiene, Breastfeeding, and Complementary Feeding Practices & Restrictions among Women in Himachal Pradesh

Perinatal Intimate Partner Violence and Maternal-Infant Bonding in Women With Anxiety Symptoms in Pakistan: The Moderating Role of Breastfeeding.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) during the perinatal period can negatively affect both a woman's health and the bonding with her infant. Research on IPV among pregnant women experiencing psychological distress in South Asia is limited. We examined associations between perinatal exposure to IPV and postnatal maternal-infant bonding in Pakistani women with symptoms of anxiety and assessed if breastfeeding practices moderated these associations. Postnatal data were collected from 720 Pakistani women who reported at least mild levels of anxiety symptoms in pregnancy. We performed Poisson regression with robust variance analyses to examine the associations between IPV during pregnancy or within 6 weeks after delivery (i.e., the perinatal period) and maternal-infant bonding. Interaction terms between IPV and breastfeeding practices were included in the analytic models to examine the moderating effects. About 27% of women were exposed to at least one type of perinatal IPV. Women who were exposed to IPV were more likely to have moderate to severe postpartum anxiety (n = 57, 28.9% of IPV-exposed women), compared to those without IPV (n = 65, 12.4% of unexposed women; p value < .001). Compared to women not reporting IPV, women exposed to any IPV showed a 38% increase in Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire scores, suggesting higher likelihood of impaired bonding (risk ratio [RR] = 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.21, 1.56]). Among women who initiated breastfeeding later than 1 hr post-delivery, IPV was associated with impaired bonding (RR = 1.09, 95% CI [1.06, 1.20]), whereas no association was present for women who initiated breastfeeding within 1 hr (RR = 1.03, 95% CI [0.98, 1.08]). In addition to the efforts to reduce IPV, encouraging IPV-exposed women to adhere to the breastfeeding guidelines (e.g., early breastfeeding) may enhance maternal-infant bonding.

Spatial distribution and determinants of exclusive breastfeeding practice among mothers of children under 24 months of age in Ethiopia: spatial and multilevel analysis

BackgroundBreast milk is the first, highly valuable, and solely natural food recommended for infants in their first six months of life, which is critical for children's overall growth and development. Evidence suggests that exclusive breastfeeding differs by geographic area in Ethiopia. However, little is known regarding the geographic distribution of exclusive breastfeeding practice. Hence, this study aimed to assess exclusive breastfeeding practice, its geographic variation and associated factors among Ethiopian mothers.MethodThe study used the 2019 Ethiopian mini demographic and health survey data. All living children born 0–23 months before the survey were included. Global Moran’s I statistics on Arc-GIS and Getis Ord Gi* statistics was used to visualize the spatial pattern and hotspot and cold spot areas, respectively. Kulldorff SaTScan was used to show purely significant spatial clusters. The associated factors were identified using a multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression model. Statistically significant factors were reported using the AOR with a 95% CI and a p-value of < 5%.ResultThe coverage of exclusive breastfeeding practice in Ethiopia was 56.05% (95% CI: 53.95%, 58.10%). The spatial pattern was non-random across the country’s regions. Somalia, Gambela, Benshangul Gumuz, Dire Dawa, and Harari regions had low clustering of exclusive breastfeeding practices, whereas Amhara, Eastern SNNPR, and Central and Northern Oromia regions had high clustering. Children born through caesarean delivery [AOR = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.21, 0.63], initiated breastfeeding within the first 1 h [AOR = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.34, 0.90], after 1–24 h of delivery [AOR = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.24, 0.54], after a day [AOR = 0.04; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.08], and women residing in the pastoralist region [AOR = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.39] or city administrations [AOR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.27, 0.89] had lower odds of exclusive breastfeeding practice.ConclusionExclusive breastfeeding practice in Ethiopia remained low. The practice had a spatial variation across the country. Caesarean section delivery, late breastfeeding initiation, and region were statistically significant variables. Therefore, promoting timely initiation of breastfeeding and improving the utilization of maternal health services and designing special intervention strategy for women residing in city administrations and pastoralist regions of the country may increase the coverage of exclusive breastfeeding practice.

Psychometric evaluation of the Afaan Oromo version of the exclusive breastfeeding social support scale among Ethiopian women

ProblemThere is a lack of validated tools for assessing social support for Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) practice in Ethiopia. BackgroundValidating instruments ensures culturally appropriate and reliable data collection for effective research and interventions. AimThis study aimed to translate the exclusive breastfeeding social support scale into the Afaan Oromo language (EBFSS-AO) and test its psychometric properties among Ethiopian women. MethodsThe scale was first subjected to forward and backward translation before undergoing psychometric evaluation. Then, a cross-sectional study was conducted on convenience sample of 160 postpartum women. Content validity was assessed via Content Validity Index (CVI), and construct validity was tested using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with maximum likelihood estimation. The scale's reliability was measured using Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). FindingsThe CFA verified that the EBFSS-AO for Ethiopian women is a three-dimensional scale with satisfactory fit indices; x2/df: 2.76; Comparative fit index: 0.917; Tucker-Lewis Index: 0.902; Standardized Root Mean square residual: 0.061; and Root mean square error of approximation: 0.105. Item-level CVI ranged from 0.86 to 1.00, and scale-level CVI was 0.98. The overall scale had a Cronbach's alpha of 0.95 while instrumental, emotional, and informational support subscales had a Cronbach's alpha of 0.89, 0.92, and 0.93 respectively. After a 4-week re-test, the ICC yielded a value of 0.94. Partner support on EBF showed no socio-demographic differences except for income. ConclusionThe EBFSS-AO showed satisfactory psychometric properties, suitable for assessing social support among Ethiopian women in both research and clinical contexts.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Breastfeeding Practices of Mothers Visiting Tertiary Care Hospital

Knowledge, Attitude, and Breastfeeding Practices of Mothers Visiting Tertiary Care Hospital

Reliability and validity of the German version of the Iowa infant feeding attitude scale (IIFAS-G) and relations to breastfeeding duration and feeding method

BackgroundPublic health initiatives (e.g., the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative) have led to an increase in breastfeeding rates worldwide. However, as (exclusive) breastfeeding duration is still below WHO recommendations, it is crucial to understand the factors that influence decisions on breastfeeding practice. Modifiable psychological factors such as intention to breastfeed have therefore become targets of recent interventions. As the intention to breastfeed is among the strongest predictors of breastfeeding duration, reliable tools for measuring the intention to breastfeed are needed. The Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS) measures attitudes towards infant feeding and is used in various languages and across different cultural contexts. However, there has been no German version of the IIFAS (IIFAS-G) so far. The aim of this study was to investigate reliability, validity, and associations of the IIFAS-G with feeding method and breastfeeding duration.MethodsBetween August and November 2022, a total of 353 mothers (Mage = 35 years, SDage = 4.2 years) of singleton infants (47.3% female (1 undetermined), Mage = 10.8 months, SDage = 4.7 months, age range: 3-547 days; 90.4% living in Switzerland) participated in an online survey. The IIFAS-G was administered as a part of a larger study on early child development and infant feeding method.ResultsThe translated IIFAS-G showed unsatisfactory model fit for the two factor 17-item solution. Four items showed low factor loadings. After item reduction, a 13-item two factor solution showed satisfactory model fit (CFI = 0.92, TLI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.07) and high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.85). The IIFAS-G score was higher for mothers who exclusively breastfed their infants compared to mothers who additionally or exclusively fed infant formula. Moreover, mothers with higher IIFAS-G scores were less likely to stop breastfeeding their child over the course of 1.5years (HR = 0.87).ConclusionA shorter two-factor IIFAS-G is proposed to investigate attitudes towards breastfeeding and formula feeding in German-speaking mothers.

Do Breastfeeding Policies and Practices in Neonatal Intensive Care Units Differ by Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative Status?

Background: The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) was launched in 1991 by the World Health Organization and United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund to promote and support breastfeeding within hospitals. Prior studies have assessed the associations between BFHI and breastfeeding, but there is limited evidence examining the policies and practices in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) that, in turn, may influence breastfeeding. Objective: The goal of this analysis was to assess whether BFHI status was associated with breastfeeding policies and practices in NICUs in a sample of U.S.-based hospitals. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was sent to hospital administrators at 1,285 facilities (817 BFHI and 468 non-BFHI) throughout all regions of the United States and assessed whether hospitals were implementing breastfeeding support policies and practices in NICUs. Pearson's chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests were performed to assess associations between BFHI status and reported 6 breastfeeding policies and 11 breastfeeding practices. Results: Among all 259 respondents (BFHI: 68/102 [67%], non-BFHI: 73/157 [47%]), Baby-Friendly® status was significantly associated with having specific breastfeeding practices in the NICU (67% versus 47%, p = 0.001). More BFHI compared with non-BFHI hospitals reported assessing milk supply of mothers (90% versus 75%, p = 0.026) and communicating the medical benefits of breastfeeding (91% versus 75%, p = 0.012) to new parents. There were, however, no differences by BFHI status in the other breastfeeding policies and practices.

Community-based diet and obesity-related policy, system, and environmental interventions for obesity prevention during the first 1000 days: A scoping review.

Community-based policy, systems, and environmental interventions have the potential to reduce modifiable risk factors for obesity early in life. The purpose of this scoping review was to characterize the breadth, generalizability, and methodological quality of community-based diet and obesity-related policy, system, and environmental interventions during the first 1000 days of life, from pregnancy to 24 months of age. Eight databases were searched, and 83 studies (122 references) were included. Data were extracted for breadth (intervention characteristics), generalizability (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance), and study quality (Downs and Black Checklist). Systems and environmental approaches were common (> 80%), relative to policy approaches (39%). The majority (60-69%) occurred in the prenatal period and early infancy (0-3months), assessed breastfeeding or child growth/obesity (53% for both), and included people with lower income (80%) or racial and/or ethnic minority groups (63%). Many interventions reported positive outcomes (i.e., in the expected direction) for child diet, breastfeeding, and feeding practices (> 62%). Few reported intervention maintenance or spanned the full 1000 days. Most studies were classified as good (32%) or fair (56%) methodological quality. The interventions mainly addressed pregnancy and early infancy. Rigorous and representative investigation is needed to improve intervention reach, sustainability, and application in toddlerhood.

Factors associated with stunting among children 0-23 months in Aceh: A cross-sectional study using SSGI 2021

Stunting is a chronic health problem that affects children and has long-term implications for cognitive development. The multifactorial causes of stunting require the identification of the most dominant factors to facilitate effective interventions. This study aimed to analyze the factors associated with stunting in children under two years old in Aceh. This was a cross-sectional study involving 2,395 subjects aged 0-23 months. Data were obtained from the 2021 SSGI national survey, consisting of stunting prevalence, child and family characteristics, household sanitation, universal health insurance ownership, breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices, immunization status, parenting and pregnancy classes, supplementary feeding, and food security. Logistic regression analysis was performed with 95% confidence intervals. The results showed a significant association between stunting and child sex, sanitation conditions, parental education, exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding practices, immunization status, micronutrient supplementation, and breastfeeding duration (p&lt;0.05). In conclusion, the factors associated with stunting in children aged 0-23 months in Aceh are sanitation, parental education, exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding practices, immunization, micronutrient supplementation, and duration of breastfeeding. This study highlights the importance of improved nutrition education, family support, increased immunization coverage, and improved environmental sanitation to reduce the prevalence of stunting among young children in Aceh.

Scoping Review of Breastfeeding Outcomes and Practices for Infants With an Upper Lip Tie

This scoping review of the literature sought to explore and summarize the existing research on breastfeeding and upper lip ties. Seventeen articles met peer-reviewed eligibility criteria and were included in the review. Findings were categorized into four themes:Subjective Upper Lip Tie Diagnostic Criteria Do Not Always Relate to Breastfeeding Outcomes,Lack of Literature on Upper Lip Tie Alone in Relation to Breastfeeding,Upper Lip Tie Not Correlated to Breastfeeding Rates, andSubjective Breastfeeding Improvement Post-Frenotomy Possible. The findings revealed inconsistencies among provider upper lip tie diagnosis. Most research included infants having both lip and tongue ties. Furthermore, studies lacked an assessment of objective breastfeeding outcomes and long-term breastfeeding success. Additional research is needed to determine the best breastfeeding practices for infants with lip ties.

Optimalisasi Edukasi Kesehatan Ibu untuk Meningkatkan Kepatuhan Pemberian ASI di Desa Sukamulya

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life is an important effort to improve the health and development of babies. Objective: This aims to optimize maternal health knowledge in Sukamulya Village in order to increase their compliance with breastfeeding. Method: This service program involves several main activities: (1) Health Education: Holding training sessions and seminars regarding the benefits and techniques of breastfeeding for mothers in the village. Education is carried out by medical personnel and nutritionists. (2) Individual Counseling: Providing personal consultations for mothers who experience difficulties or have questions regarding breastfeeding. (3) Providing educational materials: Distributing brochures, posters and practical guides on exclusive breastfeeding to mothers in Sukamulya Village. Results: After program implementation, maternal health knowledge regarding breastfeeding has increased significantly. Data shows that adherence to breastfeeding increased from 45% before the intervention to 75% after the program was implemented. Feedback from participants shows an increase in understanding and application of breastfeeding practices in their daily lives. Conclusion: Optimizing maternal health knowledge through education and counseling is effective in increasing compliance with breastfeeding in Sukamulya Village. This program shows that a knowledge-based approach can improve awareness and practice of breastfeeding, contributing to the health and well-being of babies. Recommendations for further program development include sustainable implementation and strengthening community support.

Political Economy of Maternal Child Malnutrition: Experiences about Water, Food, and Nutrition Policies in Pakistan.

This study examined access to water, food, and nutrition programs among marginalized communities in Southern Punjab, Pakistan, and their effects on nutrition. Both qualitative and quantitative data were used in this study. We held two focus group discussions (one with 10 males and one with 10 females) and conducted in-depth interviews with 15 key stakeholders, including 20 mothers and 10 healthcare providers. A survey of 235 households was carried out to evaluate water and food insecurity, with the data analyzed using Wilcoxon's rank-sum test, t-test, and Pearson's chi-square test. The results revealed that 90% of households experienced moderate-to-severe water insecurity, and 73% faced moderate-to-severe food insecurity. Household water and food insecurity were positively correlated with each other (correlation coefficient = 0.205; p = 0.004). Greater household water (p = 0.028) and food insecurity (p < 0.001) were both associated with higher perceived stress. Furthermore, lower socioeconomic status was strongly related to higher levels of water (p < 0.001) and food insecurity (p < 0.001). Qualitative findings highlight the impact of colonial and post-colonial policies, which have resulted in water injustice, supply issues, and corruption in water administration. Women face significant challenges in fetching water, including stigma, harassment, and gender vulnerabilities, leading to conflicts and injuries. Water scarcity and poor quality adversely affect sanitation, hygiene, and breastfeeding practices among lactating mothers. Structural adjustment policies have exacerbated inflation and reduced purchasing power. Respondents reported a widespread lack of dietary diversity and food quality. Nutrition programs face obstacles such as the exclusion of people with low social and cultural capital, underfunding, weak monitoring, health sector corruption, and the influence of formula milk companies allied with the medical community and bureaucracy. This study concludes that addressing the macro-political and economic causes of undernutrition should be prioritized to improve nutrition security in Pakistan.

Imaging Enigma in Mastitis: A Comprehensive study of Multifaceted Causes, Clinical and Radiological Presentations

Mastitis is an inflammatory condition of the breast which represents an array of underlying etiologies encompassing both infectious and non-infectious causes. Exacerbating factors include endemic infections, lack of awareness and suboptimal breastfeeding practices. Neglected cases lead to prolonged morbidity, recurrent episodes, and complications such as abscess or sinus formation, resulting in permanent breast disfigurement. Its overlapping clinical presentation with breast cancer necessitates an integrated multidisciplinary approach for diagnosis and treatment. The primary aim was to investigate demographic, radiological, and histopathological characteristics of mastitis. Objectives included correlating radiological and histopathological findings, classifying mastitis by etiology, identifying the clinical and imaging patterns across diverse clinical settings to enhance the understanding of mastitis. This is a retrospective observational study, analysing the clinical, radiological, and histopathological data from 65 patients with mastitis between February 2023 and February 2024. The study included 65 patients, aged 18 to 65 years, with breast pain as the most prevalent clinical presentation. Cases were classified as infectious (47.6%) and non-infectious (52%). Acute puerperal mastitis (26.15%) and granulomatous mastitis (30%) were the most common subtypes. The commonest mammographic finding was focal asymmetry. On ultrasound, infectious mastitis showed oedema with other inflammatory changes, including diffuse skin thickening and collections; while non-infectious mastitis typically presented as solitary or multiple breast masses (p < 0.001). Surprisingly, idiopathic granulomatous mastitis constituted the largest percentage amongst various histopathological causes of mastitis in our study. An integrated multidisciplinary approach with understanding of the pathogenesis is imperative for prompt diagnosis and optimizing treatment strategies, thereby improving patient outcome. Radiological imaging is critical for diagnosis, evaluating disease extent, conducting guided interventions, and monitoring treatment response.

Women's views and experiences of breastfeeding during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: A systematic review of qualitative evidence.

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic affected breastfeeding women in various ways. Understanding their experiences during the pandemic is crucial for informing actionable recommendations, evidence-based strategies and future policies to support breastfeeding during global pandemics. This review aimed to synthesise qualitative evidence on women's breastfeeding perceptions, experiences and support needs during the pandemic. The Joanna Briggs Institute's (JBI) guidelines on systematic reviews of qualitative evidence were followed. MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and Web of Science Core Collection databases were searched. Methodological quality of included papers was assessed using JBI's checklist for qualitative research. The synthesised findings were generated using JBI's meta-aggregation approach. The JBI ConQual process was used to rank each synthesised finding. Fifty-two papers were included. The synthesised findings included: (1) women's awareness and commitment to breastfeeding during the pandemic, (2) the multifaceted breastfeeding experiences of women during the pandemic, (3) breastfeeding practices and challenges for working women, (4) professional support during the pandemic: navigating breastfeeding in an evolving health care context and (5) family and peer support groups during the challenging times of the pandemic. Breastfeeding women require clear information, accessible in-person lactation support, family emotional support, food security and protection of psychological well-being. The review reported diverse breastfeeding experiences, from social support challenges to positive aspects like remote work. Breastfeeding support and lactation consultants should be considered as essential services in future pandemics. Food security is crucial for breastfeeding households. Lactation services could prioritise face-to-face consultations for physical challenges and providing online informational support. Future research could explore innovative breastfeeding education strategies.

Breastfeeding in US working mothers: A systematic review.

Previous studies demonstrate that exclusive breastfeeding has positive long-term health effects on the mother and infant, but research has shown that nearly 50% of mothers do not breastfeed for the recommended amount of time. This article systematizes previous quantitative research on the impact of work on breastfeeding practices to identify the factors that correlate to the cessation of breastfeeding in working mothers. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statements, we performed a systematic review that screened PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Academic Search Complete databases for articles relating to maternal employment and breastfeeding. Of the 13,106 articles assessed for eligibility, 21 studies met all requirements and were included in this systematic review. The 21 articles were divided into study type and methods, participant demographics, study outcomes, and additional factors that included stressors and stress levels, factors that increased or decreased rates of breastfeeding, and feeding methods. Articles outside of the United States were excluded due to differences in maternity leave policies of other countries impacting the data. Cessation of breastfeeding and breastfeeding outcomes were seen to have a strong association with maternal employment, specifically with the policies and employer support in the workplace. Other factors such as race, level of education, and stress were also shown to relate to breastfeeding outcomes and are important to consider in future public health interventions and workplace policies.

Promoting Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding Practices for Optimal Maternal and Child Nutrition

This review article examines the critical role of promoting breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices in addressing maternal malnutrition and improving maternal and child health outcomes. It begins with an introduction highlighting the significance of these practices in achieving optimal nutrition, followed by a discussion of methodology involving a comprehensive review of existing literature and the interventions (Like PLA approach and awareness raising through 1000 days Window of Opportunity etc.) being implemented under the project “Improved Resilience through Food and Nutrition Security” by Farmers Development Organization. The purpose of the review is to underscore the importance of breastfeeding and complementary feeding in maternal and child health, offering insights into successful interventions, challenges, and recommendations for improvement. Results emphasize the profound impact of these practices, emphasizing the need for early initiation of breastfeeding and the introduction of nutritious complementary foods. In conclusion, the urgent need for concerted efforts to promote these practices is emphasized, with the potential for significant progress in enhancing overall public health through evidence-based intervention.

A multicentre survey to assess exclusive breastfeeding practices in Bhutan

BackgroundExclusive breastfeeding (EBF) can reduce illnesses and death in infants. Globally, there has been a slow uptake in EBF despite 30 years of evidence on the benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers. The Royal Government of Bhutan has committed to rising the EBF rate, which was 51.4 % in 2015. Therefore, we seek to investigate the current situation of EBF in Bhutan and identify the underlying factors that influence breastfeeding practices. MethodsThis cross-sectional survey was conducted on mothers with children aged 0–6 months, who visited one of the participating referral hospitals. Participants were divided into the EBF group if they fed their infant only breast milk, or the non-EBF group if their infant was fed other liquids or solids in addition to breast milk. The nutrition-related knowledge, attitude, and practice questionnaire; the Iowa infant feeding attitude scale; and the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale - Short Form were used to assess breastfeeding practices. ResultsOf the 483 mothers included, 324 (67 %) exclusively breastfed their babies. The EBF and non-EBF groups displayed significant differences for referral hospitals (p = 0.002) and for the duration of maternity leave (p = 0.002). Although knowledge of EBF was significantly lower in the EBF group (p = 0.040), self-efficacy was significantly higher (p = 0.028). ConclusionThis study revealed an increase in the EBF rate compared to the 2015 report. Further propagation and strengthening of EBF practices might be accomplished through improvements in the self-efficacy of the mother.

Effect of intimate partner violence on breast feeding practices: A systematic review

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the correlation between breastfeeding practices and intimate partner violence (IPV). Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed in Google Scholar, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and PubMed, focusing on articles published in English from 2000 to 2023. The review included original cohort and cross-sectional studies that assessed the impact of IPV (sexual, emotional, and/or physical) on breastfeeding practices. The quality of the included articles was evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Results: The review incorporated 22 original articles (16 cohort and 6 cross-sectional) from various countries. Different forms of IPV, including physical, emotional, and sexual violence, were examined. Out of these studies, 19 reported a negative impact of IPV on breastfeeding practices, including delayed breastfeeding initiation, early cessation, lower intention to exclusively breastfeed, and shorter breastfeeding duration among mothers who experienced IPV. The quality assessment revealed that only two of the six cross-sectional studies were of fair quality, while the rest were good to fair. For cohort studies, only five were satisfactory, with overall quality ranging from fair to poor. Most studies indicated that IPV, at any stage and in any form, was associated with unfavorable breastfeeding outcomes. This was particularly evident in low- and middle-income countries such as Kenya, Zimbabwe,Nepal, India, Nigeria, and Bangladesh. Determinants like maternal education, age, delivery mode, and employment also influenced breastfeeding initiation. Conclusion: The review concluded that IPV exposure is significantly related to poor breastfeeding practices. It highlighted the need for individual study meta-analyses to quantify the correlation between IPV and breastfeeding practices. Additionally, it called for more high-quality longitudinal studies that control for potential confounders to better understand this relationship. Keywords: Breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, domesticviolence, intimate partner violence, spousal abuse

Inequality in breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices in Argentina by household income level in 2018-2019.

Introduction. Diet quality is a right related to survival, healthy growth, prevention of chronic diseases, and malnutrition in all its forms. The objective of this study was to analyze breastfeeding and feeding practices in children younger than 2 years from urban areas of Argentina in 2018-2019 according to their household income level. Population and methods. Secondary analysis of data of the Second National Survey on Nutrition and Health (ENNyS2) of 2018-2019. Breastfeeding and complementary feeding indicators proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) were analized. Data were stratified by household income level. Results. The analysis included 5763 children younger than 24 months old. Although 97% was ever breastfed, only 47% of infants younger than 6 months were exclusively breastfed the previous day and 48% continued with breastfeeding after 1 year old, with a higher prevalence in low-income children. The previous day, 23% of children aged 6 to 23 months did not eat any fruit or vegetable, 60% consumed unhealthy foods, and 50% consumed sweet beverages. The consumption of sweet beverages and the absence of fruit and vegetables were higher in low-income households. Conclusion. The quality of children's diet is far from the recommendations and is conditioned by income. Early initiation of breastfeeding, minimum dietary diversity, fruit and vegetable consumption are lower and sweet beverage consumption is greater in impoverished sectors.

A Review of Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices and Their Challenges in India.

This review focuses on infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices in India, aiming to offer information on its trends, challenges, and opportunities for improvement. The overview starts by exploring the importance of IYCF practices and their results on child health, growth, and development. It delves into cultural norms, conventional practices, and local variations that impact feeding behaviors, acknowledging the range of nutritional habits across communities. The role of healthcare systems and community interventions in promoting the most desirable feeding practices is mentioned, addressing issues consisting of different breastfeeding practices, well-timed introduction of complementary meals, and micronutrient supplementation.By making thisassessment, the goal of this review is to make healthcare professionals, policymakers, and researchers aware of the current trends of IYCF and its demanding situations, and regions for development in India. It gives an understanding of the improvement of strategies and interventions that can make contributions to the increase and improvement of infant and young child nutrients, thereby nurturing the Upcoming generations.