Infancy Childhood Research Articles

World Health Organization (WHO) guideline on the complementary feeding of infants and young children aged 6-23 months 2023: A multisociety response.

The recent World Health Organization(WHO) guideline aims to provide evidence-based recommendations on complementary feeding (CF) of healthy term infants and young children 6-23 months living in low-, middle-, and high-income countries, including both breastfed and non-breastfed children. Like WHO, our organizations aim to promote optimal infant and young child nutrition and health, with a focus on promoting breastfeeding as well as appropriate and timely CF. In this paper, we share our concerns about aspects of the guideline, some of which may have the potential to cause unintended harm in infants and young children and suggest alternative or modified proposals.

Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Practices in Rural and Urban Regions of Indonesia

Background. The global strategy on infant and child feeding recommends the best pattern of feeding for infants and young child feeding (IYCF) from birth to 24 months. Practices of proper feeding of children up to 2 years of age contribute to a child’s survival, growth, and development because they can prevent micronutrient deficiencies, morbidity, and obesity in later life. This study aims to determine the risk factors for the failure of IYCF practice in urban and rural Indonesia. Materials and Methods. The study used Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS) 2017 data with a cross-sectional research design. The sampling technique used systematic probability proportional to size sampling. The number of samples was 4,869 children consisting of 2,424 children in urban and 2,445 children in rural. Bivariate analysis using chi-square test. Multivariate analysis using multivariate logistic regression. Results. The study found that most of the children in urban (79.3%) and rural (97.2%) did not practice IYCF under the recommendations. There is a difference in the proportion of IYCF practices between urban and rural areas (p <0.001). The risk factors for the failure of IYCF practice in urban areas are socioeconomic, maternal age, and age at first marriage. The poorest socioeconomic is at risk of 2.4 times, maternal age > 35 years are at risk of 1.5 times, age at first marriage is less than 21 years at risk of 2.1 times carrying out IYCF practices not according to recommendations compared to the comparison group. The risk factors for the failure of IYCF practice in rural are socioeconomic, maternal education, quantity, and quality of antenatal care (ANC). The poorest socioeconomic is at risk of 2.1 times, mothers with primary education are at 1.5 times, the quantity of ANC is not good at risk at 1.9 times, the quality of ANC is not good risk at 1.5 times practicing IYCF is not according to the recommendations compared to the comparison group. Conclusion. The practice of IYCF in Indonesia starting from giving early breastfeeding initiation, exclusive breastfeeding, and complementary feeding according to recommendations is still low. The priority of IYCF intervention through education and assistance to pregnant women needs to be a sustainable program.

Infant and young child feeding practice among mothers-child pair in irrigated and non-irrigated areas of Dangila district, Northwest Ethiopia, 2020: a community based comparative cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe issue of Infant and Young Child Feeding practices was widespread; it was estimated that infants were not exclusively breastfed in the first six months of life. Complementary foods were frequently provided too soon or too late, and they were often nutritionally deficient. Even, there are nutrition-sensitive activities like irrigation schemes, evidence on infant and young child feeding practices between irrigated and non-irrigated areas is scarce or limited.ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence of infant and young child feeding practices among 0–23 months of age children in irrigated and non-irrigated areas of Dangila District, North-west Ethiopia, 2020.MethodsA community based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from Dec 1, 2020, to Jun 1, 2020. A stratified sampling technique was implemented to select 823 mothers with children age 0–23 months from irrigated (411) and non-irrigated (412) kebeles. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the associated factors of infant and young child feeding practice. Adjusted odds ratios with a 95% CI were used to determine the degree of association between the independent and outcome variables. A p-value < 0.05 was used as a cutoff point to declare statistically significant variables with the outcome variable.ResultsAmong 823 households visited, 802 respondents with a response rate of 97.8% in irrigated and 96.11% in non-irrigated areas gave complete responses. The overall prevalence of good IYCF practice was 62.5% (95% CI: 34.2, 41.3), and it shows a significant difference between irrigated (72.2%) and non-irrigated areas (52.8%). Moreover, the study identified that education primary and above (AOR = 1.889, 95% CI: 1.38, 2.648) knowledge above mean (AOR = 2.347, 95% CI: 1.555, 3.542), positive attitude (AOR = 1.716, 95% CI: 1.139, 2.587), PNC follow-up (AOR = 1.606, 95% CI: 1.154, 2.360), women’s decision-making power (AOR = 1.840, 95% CI: 1.226, 2.763), and multiple delivery (AOR = 0.352, 95% CI: 0.213, 0.583) were significant factors for IYCF among 0–23 month-old children.Conclusion and recommendationsThe infant and young child feeding practice among 0–23 month-old children was better in an irrigated area than in a non-irrigated area. Promoting irrigation practices, empowering women, and strengthening postnatal care are recommended interventions to increase infant, young, and child feeding practices in the study area.

Rational Use of Antibiotics in Childhood Pneumonia: A review

Inappropriate antibiotic treatment in childhood pneumonia may lead to greater expense, antibiotic resistance, toxic side effects, or even death. Important risk factors are infant and young children, low birth weight, nonexclusive breastfeeding, malnutrition, vitamin A deficiency, incomplete immunization and exposure to polluted air. Common organisms involved in pneumonia in neonatal periods are gram negative rods, group B streptococcus and staphylococcus. Beyond the neonatal period S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, staphylococcus and mycoplasma are common. MRSA, gram negative rods and Legionella spp are commonly involved in nosocomial pneumonia. Rational use of antibiotic for bacterial pneumonia is based on probable organism, age, vaccination and clinical status of the child. Children who do not require hospitalization should have high doses of amoxicillin 90 mg/kg/day orally divided twice daily, alternatives include cefuroxime and amoxicillin/clavulanate. For schoolaged children when mycoplasma is suspected, azithromycin is generally preferred, alternatives clarithromycin can be given. Fully immunized against H. influenzae type b and S. pneumoniae children who are not severely ill should give ampicillin or penicillin G. For children who do not meet these criteria: ceftriaxone or cefotaxime should be given. If clinical features suggest staphylococcal pneumonia (pneumatocele or empyema), then include oxacillin or vancomycin. Vancomycin and meropenem are the initial treatment of choice for nosocomial pneumonia. Pneumonia in neonatal period should have ampicillin plus gentamicin or ceftazidime plus amikacin. Antibiotics should be continued until the patient has been afebrile for 72 hours, and the total duration should be 10 days. Selection of appropriate antibiotic in childhood pneumonia considering age of the child, risk factor, probable organism, immunization status and clinical severity are paramount important. BANGLADESH J CHILD HEALTH 2022; VOL 46 (3) : 102-109

Assessment of infant and young child feeding practices and associated factors among less than two years' children in Leka Dullecha District, East Wollega, Ethiopia.

Leka Dullecha District, situated in East Wollega, Ethiopia, represents a region where infant and young child feeding practices play a crucial role in the health and well-being of the population. Understanding the prevailing feeding practices among children under 2 years old is essential for devising effective interventions to improve child nutrition and reduce mortality rates. The context of this study involves examining various factors influencing infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices, including socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental determinants. The main aim of the study was conducted to investigate the infant and young child feeding practice and associated factors among mothers of children 0-23 months in Leka Dullecha District, East Wollega, and Ethiopia. A community-based, cross-sectional study design was carried out using 590 sample sizes. A stratified sampling method was used with simple random sampling technique. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with infant and young child feeding practices. The overall prevalence of appropriate infant and young child feeding practice was estimated to 62.3%. According to this finding, age of child, place of delivery, and knowledge of mother were positively associated factors for inappropriate Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices. The overall infant and young child feeding practices in this study is not meeting the WHO guidelines for appropriate feeding practices. To achieve better feeding practices among 0-23 months aged children, intervention should focus on encouraging institution delivery and capacitating all health workers providing health education focusing on infant and young child feeding practices.

A proposal to recognize investment in breastfeeding as a carbon offset.

Policy-makers need to rethink the connections between the economy and health. The World Health Organization Council on the Economics of Health for All has called for human and planetary health and well-being to be moved to the core of decision-making to build economies for health. Doing so involves valuing and measuring what matters, more and better health financing, innovation for the common good and rebuilding public sector capacity. We build on this thinking to argue that breastfeeding should be recognized in food and well-being statistics, while investments in breastfeeding should be considered a carbon offset in global financing arrangements for sustainable food, health and economic systems. Breastfeeding women nourish half the world's infants and young children with immense quantities of a highly valuable milk. This care work is not counted in gross domestic product or national food balance sheets, and yet ever-increasing commercial milk formula sales are counted. Achieving global nutrition targets for breastfeeding would realize far greater reductions in greenhouse gas emissions than decarbonizing commercial milk formula manufacturing. New metrics and financing mechanisms are needed to achieve the health, sustainability and equity gains from more optimal infant and young child feeding. Properly valuing crucial care and environmental resources in global and national measurement systems would redirect international financial resources away from expanding carbon-emitting activities, and towards what really matters, that is, health for all. Doing so should start with considering breastfeeding as the highest quality, local, sustainable first-food system for generations to come.

Awareness, perception and practices regarding Breast-Feeding and IYCF Practices among mothers of Children Up to 2 Years in Two Districts of Central India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Breastfeeding is an absolute necessary intervention for childhood survival. WHO/UNICEF have given utmost emphasis on first 1000 days of life comprising of 270 days in-utero and the first two years post birth as most vital period for nutritional interventions. [1] Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) is a set of renowned and usual recommendations for appropriate feeding of new-born and children below two years of age. Aims &amp; Objectives: To assess the awareness, perception and practices, regarding breast-feeding and IYCF practices among mothers of children up to 2 years, in two districts of Central India. Settings and Design: Cross Sectional Study. Materials and Methods: This Cross-sectional study was carried out in two districts of Central India from January 2021 to December 2021. The study subjects included 400 mothers of babies less than two years old, who had given consent. Interpersonal interview using a pre-designed semi-structured questionnaire was carried out. Data was collected, compiled and analysed using SPSS 25.0 (Trial Version). Result: Only (58.60%) of respondents were completely knowledgeable about exclusive breastfeeding, the value of colostrum feeding, the advantages of breastfeeding (81.69%), and its early onset (64.75%), duration (71.25%), and frequency (74.50%). However, 50.25% of women lacked understanding about the ideal positioning and attachment of the infant to the breast. Conclusion: All beneficiaries should be shown demonstrations of all IYCF practices. Family members should also be counselled and encouraged to support IYCF practices.

Diet quality and nutritional status of HIV-exposed children aged between 6 and 18 months in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

IntroductionHIV-exposed children, even when uninfected, have a greater risk of malnutrition than unexposed counterparts. WHO guidelines recommend children aged 6–23 months be fed a variety of foods to meet nutrient requirements. This study aimed to determine infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices among HIV-exposed children under 2 years old enrolled in a dietary intervention and to explore correlates of the IYCF indicators and associations between IYCF and nutritional status.MethodologySix hundred and eighty mother–child pairs were recruited from 19 health facilities from the Greater Accra Region. The sociodemographic data, anthropometry, hemoglobin, and dietary intake were recorded.ResultsNinety-five percent of HIV-positive mothers breastfed their babies, and 53% initiated breastfeeding in a timely manner. Around one in five mothers (21%) introduced liquids other than breastmilk to their children within the first 2 days of birth, and only around one in four children (26%) aged 12–23 months had received breast milk on the day before assessment. Ninety-three percent of babies between 6 and 8 months had been introduced to solid, semi-solid, or soft foods. Eighteen percent of children reached the threshold for Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) by eating from over five of eight food groups. Fifty-four percent received Minimum Meal Frequency (MMF), eating between 2 and 4 meals in a day. Eleven percent received the Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD). Thirty-two percent were anemic. Underweight and stunting were 12 and 11%, respectively. Children of mothers aged 31–40 years were more likely to meet the MDD and MAD [OR = 2.8, 95%CI (1.185, 6.519), p &amp;lt; 0.05 and OR = 2.8, 95%CI (1.256, 6.279), p &amp;lt; 0.05] compared to children of mothers aged 30 years or less or aged above 40 years. Children from households earning more than GHS 500 were more likely to meet MMF than those from households earning less. No associations were found between IYCF and nutritional status.ConclusionFindings highlight the need for nutrition programs to educate HIV-exposed children’s caregivers on optimal feeding practices. The importance of continued breastfeeding and dietary diversity needs to be highlighted. Affordable, iron-rich foods should be promoted. Special attention should be paid to younger, less educated, and lower socioeconomic status mothers.

Paternal Participation in Optimal Infant and Young Child Feeding Practice and Associated Factors: A Community-Based Analytical Cross-Sectional Study from Chronically Food-Insecure Communities, Ethiopia

Evidence shows that paternal participation helps to improve the utilization of optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices. However, little has been known about chronically food-insecure (CFI) communities. The aim of this study to assess paternal participation in optimal IYCF practice and associated factors in the Dodota district of the Arsi zone, Ethiopia, 2022. A community-based cross-sectional study involving 1152 fathers was conducted after ethical clearance was obtained. Measures of optimal IYCF are based on criteria established by the World Health Organization. We analyzed the data using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Results indicated that paternal participation in optimal IYCF practice was 26.2%. The percentages of early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF), exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), and minimum acceptable diet (MAD) were respectively 72.9%, 66.1%, and 37.3%. Paternal knowledge of IYCF (AOR:3.2, P &lt;0.01), education (AOR:2.1, P&lt;0.05), income (AOR:1.8, P&lt;0.05), child's age (AOR 1.7, P&lt;0.05), and the number of children (AOR:2.1, P&lt;0.05) were the predictors of the outcome. Large-scale, in-depth studies should be required to justify the result unequivocally.

The Relationship between Maternal Factors and the Timely Initiation of Complementary Feeding for Infants, in West Sumatera Province, Indonesia

Objective − This study looked into the relationship between maternal factors and the timely initiation of complementary feeding for infants. Material and Methods − A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to December 2022 on 196 mothers and their children aged 6-23 months. This study collected data through a questionnaire that included sociodemographic informa- tion, the Infant and Young Child Feeding Questionnaire for Child Care Providers (IYCF-CCPQ), the Iowa Infant Feeding At- titude Scale (IIFAS), and the time of initiation of complementary feeding.Results − This study included 196 mothers, with 128 (55.1%) having adequate knowledge of complementary feeding and 112 mothers (59.7%) had a negative view of infant feeding. The rate of timely initiation of complementary feeding was 71.4%. The mothers’ knowledge of infant feeding did not predict the timely initiation of complementary feeding (OR=1.18; 95% CI=0.62-2.26). However, maternal attitudes toward infant feeding were linked to the timely initiation of complementary feeding (OR=2.14; 95% CI=1.14-4.02). Conclusions − Mothers with positive attitudes toward infant feeding were twice as likely to start complementary feeding on time as those with negative at- titudes. Counseling mothers on the importance of timely initiation of complementary feeding is therefore required to improve mothers’ attitudes toward providing complementary foods to their infants in accordance with health recommendations.

Assessment of Dietary Intake and Nutritional Status of Children (0-23 Months) Accessing Care in Community Infant and Young Child Feeding (C-IYCF) Practices in Hasiya Bayero Pediatric Hospital Kano

Introduction: Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices have substantial outcomes for the growth, development, and survival of infants and children during the first two years of age and throughout their lifetime. The study aimed to assess the dietary intake and nutritional status of children (0–23 months) registered for care in Hasiya Bayero Pediatric Hospital Kano. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 125 randomly selected caregiver-child pairs accessing care in the hospital. A validated semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic and dietary intake information from the respondents. Anthropometric indices of weight for age, length for age, and weight for length measurements were used to assess the nutritional status of children. Result: Female caregivers were the most participants in this study 122 (98.2%). For marital status, almost all 124 (99.4%) of the mothers were married and only 1 each of the mothers reported to be single and being widowed. About 76 (60.8%) of the study population attended secondary education. The major occupation of the caregivers is trading in 92.4%. Dietary intake consists mainly of legumes in 30.0% and cereals in 56.5%. Only 39.0% portion of the population met the minimum World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation of dietary diversity and over 79.8% of the caregivers were still breastfeeding during the period of the study, 18% of them initiated breastfeeding within 1 h of birth and only 16.2% exclusively breastfed their children; majority 70.6% of the caregivers breastfed on demand while with a small proportion of 26.1% and 3.3% responded to breastfeeding when convenient and breastfeeding at a scheduled time respectively. Conclusion: The study revealed that the nutritional status of the children was poor. Up to 60 (51.2%), 98 (88.3%), and 74 (65.1%) of the infants were wasted, underweight, and stunted, respectively. The study also revealed that the nutritional status of the children (WLZ, WAZ, and LAZ) was significantly related to the dietary diversity at p = 0.002, p = 0.001, and p = 0.019, respectively. This study revealed poor IYCF practices in Hasiya Bayero Pediatric Hospital Kano. Therefore, more attention needs to be paid to the specific behaviors surrounding feeding practices and other constraints to children accessing care in Hasiya Bayero Pediatric Hospital Kano.

Minimum acceptable diet and associated factors among 6–23 months children in rural households with irrigated users and non-irrigated users in Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study

IntroductionPoor quality of complementary foods is a key contributor to undernutrition even with optimal breastfeeding. Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD) has tremendous health and nutrition benefits but only 12% of Ethiopian children’s feeding practices meet its standards. The Ethiopian government has recently increased efforts to expand nutrition-sensitive irrigation to improve child nutrition. However, the impact that irrigation has brought on the minimum acceptable diet practice of children below two years has not yet been studied. The aim of this study was to compare the magnitude of MAD practice and associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in households with irrigated users and non-users of North Mecha district, Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based comparative cross-sectional study was employed among 824 mother-child pairs. For infant and young child feeding practices, the data collection tools were adapted from the World Health Organization’s standardized questionnaire developed in 2010. X2 test was used to compare the MAD practices of irrigated users’ and non-irrigated users. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to see the predictor variables. p-value < 0.05 was taken to declare statistical significance.ResultsThe present study showed that the MAD practice of under two children in irrigated users is significantly higher than non-users (X2 = 13.91, P <.001). Maternal involvement in decision-making [AOR = 4.37, 95% CI: (2.05,9.33)], initiation of breastfeeding [AOR = 5.29, 95% CI: (2.393,11.672)], and history of illness [AOR = 4.10, 95%CI: (1.48,11.38)] were independent predictors for MAD practice among irrigated users. Whereas, maternal involvement in decision making [AOR = 4.71, 95% CI: ( 2.28, 9.75)], place of delivery [AOR = 2.51, 95% CI: ( 1.14, 5.55)], postnatal care (PNC) follow-up [AOR = 3.01, 95%CI: (1.57, 5.77)] and growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) service utilization [AOR = 4.64, 95% CI: (2.40, 8.95)] were the independent predictors among the non-users.ConclusionMAD practice was much higher in irrigated users than in non-irrigated users. Involvement in a decision, place of delivery, PNC, and GMP are independent predictors of MAD in children from non-irrigated households. The study suggested that expanding access to irrigation to households may be the best approach to improve child nutrition.

영아기 자녀 어머니의 공감능력이 어머니-교사 협력에 미치는 영향

Objectives The purpose of this study is to find out how the empathy ability of mothers of children in infancy affects mother-teacher cooperation and to verify the mediating effect of parenting competency that affects the causal relationship between these two variables.&#x0D; Methods An electronic survey was conducted on 284 mothers of infant children attending daycare centers in the Gyeonggi-do area. The collected data were subjected to reliability analysis, frequency analysis, descriptive statistical analysis, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis to verify mediation effects using the SPSS 29.0 program, and Sobel-test was performed to verify significance.&#x0D; Results First, the relationships between mothers' empathy and parenting capabilities and mother-teacher cooperation in infancy showed a positive correlation. Second, a partial mediating effect of parenting competency was found in the effect of the mother's empathy ability on mother-teacher cooperation during infancy.&#x0D; Conclusions This study consistently shows that mother-teacher cooperation plays an important role in the development of infants, but research on the characteristics of parents necessary to promote this is relatively insufficient. In this situation, the empathic ability of mothers of children in infancy is influenced by teachers. The significance of the study is that it was proven to be a parental variable that has a significant direct and indirect effect on cooperation with parents. Based on this study, it is expected that parent education programs will be activated to improve parents' empathy and strengthen their parenting capabilities.&#x0D;

Do improvements in infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices endure the test of time?

BackgroundReducing malnutrition is a key priority for governments in low- and middle-income countries given its lasting effects on child development, health, income, and economic growth. Strategies to improve recommended infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices, especially during the first two years of life, are considered among the most effective.MethodsIn this paper, we evaluate the long-run impacts of an innovative education strategy based on interactive play and performing arts implemented in El Alto, Bolivia on caregivers’ IYCF knowledge and practices. Two thousand and fifteen households were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. Two rounds of data were collected approximately 30 and 42 months after baseline. We estimate short-term (30 month) and longer-term (42 month) intent-to-treat effects using multivariate linear regression analysis, with and without controlling for covariates.ResultsThe program significantly increased caregiver IYCF knowledge by 0.13 SDs in the short run, and this effect grew over time. The program also improved adherence to recommended IYCF practices by 0.23 standard deviations (SDs) in the short term, but the effect on practices dissipated over time, and no longer-term impacts were detected. Caregivers with above median baseline knowledge, number of children, and age appear to have benefited most from the program.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that entertainment-education interventions are a promising model for improving and maintaining IYCF knowledge. However, their ability to sustain more permanent changes in IYCF practices is less certain. Further evidence is needed to identify other avenues for producing long-term, sustainable behavior change, especially among indigenous populations in Latin America, where literature on education and behavior-change interventions related to IYCF practices is limited.

Real Time Monitoring of Vitals of a Baby Using IoT- Enabled Smart Baby Incubator

Recently born babies are exceptionally touchy to unpleasant situations. The tidy and temperature issues here can be life debilitating. Due to these issues, a child hatchery is made that can give the same temperature and natural conditions as a mother's womb does, as well as it screens the baby's restorative conditions such as heart beat, skin temperature, inside temperature, spo2 level, baby weight etc. Being physically show with the patients has gotten to be a gigantic issue for specialists. In such cases, actualizing IoT with healing center hardware such as a Child Hatchery has gotten to be one of the fundamental objectives for us. Giving an app that can track the baby's condition remotely will demonstrate to be exceptionally productive. Our fundamental objective is to make a savvy infant hatchery that can distinguish baby's condition and in case anything goes off-base, the framework can trip itself so that the conditions can return to a typical state. We will coordinate it with IoT and a versatile app so that specialists can check the baby's condition remotely. It can be simple to think of a hatchery as fair a bed for a sick infant, but it's so much more than a put for resting. An hatchery is outlined with such methods and care that it can give a safe and sound climate for a infant child to rest until it’s imperative organs are still in a advancement arrange. When we compare our incubator to a basic healing center bed, and hatchery will give a totally controlled environment as well as the required sum of oxygen levels, idealize light presentation and mugginess matches with the mother's womb. In expansion to climate control, a hatchery offers security from other hurtful components that can harm a child such as allergens, boisterous commotions, microscopic organisms and infections, etc. An incubator's capacity to control stickiness too permits it to secure a baby's skin from losing as well much water and getting to be delicate or cracking. An hatchery can incorporate hardware to track a run of things counting a baby's temperature and heart rate. This monitoring permits medical caretakers and specialists to always track a baby's well being status.

Baby-friendly workplace initiatives in child feeding practice as predictors of infant and young child anthropometric indices in public health facilities of Southern Ethiopia

BackgroundBaby-friendly workplace is an effective evidence based initiative developed by the World Health Organization to protect and support maternal knowledge, beliefs, and confidence in infant and young child feeding practices. However, studies that show the effect of the baby-friendly workplace initiative on the nutritional status of infant and young children are not available in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the nutritional status among baby friendly initiatives service utlizers and non utlizers children age 6–24 months in public health facilities of Southern Ethiopia.MethodsWe conducted a comparative cross-sectional study from 1 to 30 June 2022 among 220 mothers with children aged 6–24 months. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Data were entered into Epidata Software version 4.2 and then exported to IBM SPSS version 26 software for analysis. Chi-square and Fisher exact test were used to assess the differences between users and non-users of the baby friendly workplace initiative. Logistic regression model was used to determine the association between dependent and independent variables. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval was computed. P-values < 0.05 at a 95% confidence level were considered statistically significant.ResultThe mean (SD) scores of weight for age (WAZ), height for age (HAZ), and weight for height (WHZ) were − 0.38 (1.34),-0.17(2.62) and-0.35 (1.84) respectively. After adjusting for covariates, children aged 6–24 months who did not use baby friendly workplace initiatives were 2.26 times more likely to have stunting compared to the users of baby friendly workplace initiative (AOR 2.26, 95% CI: 1.05, 4.88). However, both wasting (AOR: 0.42; 95% CI:0.13, 1.37) and underweight (AOR: 1.09; 95% CI: 0.45, 2.60) were not significantly associated with the use of baby friendly workplace initiatives.ConclusionThe use of baby friendly work place initiatives was successful in improving nutritional status, specifically chronic malnutrition in children. Strengthening and scaling up the baby friendly work place initiative program has the potential to reduce chronic malnutrition in Ethiopia and other similar settings with high burden of malnutrition areas, by implementing it in public facilities.

Prevalence and predictors of minimum acceptable diet (MAD) feeding among tribal children aged 6–23 months in India

ABSTRACT Minimum acceptable diet (MAD) that combines minimum dietary diversity (MDD) and minimum meal frequency (MMF) is one of the eight core indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices for children aged 6–23 months. With low MAD, young children and infants are more susceptible to undernutrition. The study assesses the prevalence and predictors of MAD among tribal children aged 6–23 months in India. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyzes were performed on data from 6326 tribal children of the National Family Health Survey (2019–21). Stata was used for the analyzes, with a 5% significance level. Only 12% of tribal children were fed with a MAD, while 24% had MDD and 34% MMF. Children aged 18–23 months had a three times higher chance of MAD than their 6–8 months counterparts. Children receiving Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), children of mothers with ten or more years of schooling, children whose mothers were exposed to mass media, and whose mothers had 4+ antenatal care visits in their last pregnancy had a higher likelihood of MAD. The study concludes that MAD among tribal children aged 6–23 months is unsatisfactory and varies significantly by socio-demographic characteristics, suggesting targeted intervention.

IJCM_17A: Infant and young child feeding practices among Refugees in Gangavalli block of Salem district: cross-sectional study.

Background: Refugees often face worse health outcomes due to barriers including language, cultural differences, inaccessibility to health care services. World Health Organization works around the globe to secure the health of refugees &amp; migrants and to achieve universal health coverage through implementation of “Health and Migration Programme” (2020). Children are more vulnerable &amp; easily prone to malnutrition in refugee &amp; migrant population. Infant and Young child feeding practice is a key area to improve child survival and promote healthy growth. Objectives: 1. To estimate the prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding of refugee children under two years of age. 2. To determine the factors influencing the feeding practices of children under 2 years among refugee children. Methodology: A Cross-sectional study was conducted among 97 refugee children under two years of age in Gangavalli block of Salem district over period of 1month (September 2023). Data collection was done using interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaire and statistical analysis done-IBM SPSS Version 21. Results: Early initiation of breastfeeding (within 1 hour of birth) was done in 53.6% children (52 out of 97). Only 26.8% children received Exclusive breastfeeding for more than 5 months of age. 64.9% children initiated on complementary feeding around 6-8 months of age. 76.3% children received semi-solid foods/soft foods during weaning. Only 5% children have Minimum Diet Diversity. Conclusion: The low rates of early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding for over 5 months of age highlight a concerning trend. Additionally, the delayed initiation of complementary feeding with minimal diet diversity in majority of children suggests a critical need for targeted interventions to improve and promote appropriate infant and young child feeding practices within this vulnerable population.

IJCM_96A: Assessment of infant and young child feeding practices among Mothers attending maternal and child health clinic in Gulbarga Institute of medical Sciences, Kalaburagi - A Cross-sectional study

Background: Infant and young child feeding is the foundation for a child’s growth and development. Over a third of the undernourished children in the world live in India. A thorough comparison between NFHS 5 and its previous report suggests that, exclusive breast-feeding among infants under 6 months of age in Kalaburagi has decreased to 45.1% from 52%, which is concerning. Furthermore, the total number of children aged 6 to 24 months receiving an adequate diet is mere 15.4%. Despite strong data supporting the advantages of breast-feeding, the rate of breast-feeding is not high enough, indicating significant gaps that require identification and attention. Objectives: (1) To assess infant and young child feeding practices among mothers attending MCH clinic. (2) To determine the morbidities associated with feeding practices. Methodology: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 mothers (by considering the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding as 45.1%) of children aged 0-24 months attending the MCH clinic at Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences using convenience sampling technique for a period of 2 months i.e., October and November 2023. Data was collected by using the WHO IYCF practices indicators questionnaire followed by interpretation in the MS Excel sheet. Data analysis will be done by using SPSS software (version 16). The results will be expressed in terms of percentages, tables and graphs using appropriate statistical tests. Results: The overall prevalence of early (within 1 h of delivery) initiation of breastfeeding was found to be 57.75%, and that of exclusive breastfeeding among 0-6 months infants was 49%. 64% of children received continued breastfeeding at one year old, Minimum dietary diversity, Minimum meal frequency, and Minimum acceptable diet were achieved by only 28.6%, 13.20%, 13.2%. Statistically significant association between exclusive breast feeding and diarrhoea(p=&lt;0.0001) and ARTI(p=0.0001),Bottle feeding and Diarrhoea(p=&lt;0.0008) and ARTI(&lt;0.05), Minimum dietary diversity and Diarrhoea(p=0.02) were found. Conclusion: Poor feeding practices among children were found to have significant association with diarrhoea and ARTI. The factors influencing IYCF practices are multifaceted, hence appropriate measures must be taken at earliest.

IJCM_93A: Anthropometric profile of under five children attending Pediatric at rural health training centre in Aligarh (U.P.)

Background: Child undernutrition is a global health concern. Malnutrition continues to be one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in developing countries like India. As per the NFHS-V, the prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight in under-five children stands at 35.5%, 19.3% and 32.1% respectively. Anthropometry has become a practical tool for evaluating the nutritional status of populations, particularly of children in developing countries &amp; the nutritional status is the best indicator of global well-being of children. Objective: To describe the anthropometric profile and assess malnutrition using anthropometric measurements of under-five children attending pediatric OPD at Rural Health Training Centre (RHTC), Jawan under Department of Community Medicine, JNMCH, A.M.U., Aligarh (U.P.). Methodology: This is a retrospective study with secondary analysis of anthropometric data of 255 under five children attending pediatric clinic for the first time at RHTC, Jawan, under Department of Community Medicine from January 1, 2023, to June 30, 2023. Collected data were entered into Microsoft Excel and analyzed by using the software SPSS, version 20.0. Results: The median age of the children was 24 months. 52.2% of them were boys and 47.8% were girls. Severe wasting (weight-for-height&lt;-3SD) and severe stunting (height-for-age&lt;-3SD) was present in 4.3% and 10.2% of all children respectively and there was no significant difference among different age groups. Prevalence of underweight and stunting was highest in children less than 6 months. Conclusion: Undernutrition is common in under-five children and 10.2% of children had severe wasting. In order to prevent severe forms of undernutrition health education to caregivers on various forms of undernutrition is crucial. IEC activities and health education regarding infant and young child feeding (IYCF) should be strengthened, especially to caregivers of children less than 6 months.