Knowledge Of Complementary Feeding Research Articles

The Culture of Complementary Feeding Practice Among Stunting in Toddlers Aged Under 24 Months

The Culture of Complementary Feeding Practice Among Stunting in Toddlers Aged Under 24 Months

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 the Feeding Practices in Infants and Young Children and its Association with Nutritional Status in Urban Areas

Background: Poor nutrition at an early age leads to malnutrition, which in turn leads to an increase in risks of repeated infections, which is responsible for the poor health of children. The nutritional status of a child is directly proportional to their feeding practices, which are dependent on the knowledge and practices followed by the mother. This study assesses the level of knowledge and practices among mothers on feeding practices for their infants and young children and its association with nutritional status.
 Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the households of urban slums in the field practice area of the Urban Health Training Centre of a private medical college. A questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic data, knowledge of breastfeeding, knowledge of complementary feeding, and actual practices of feeding the children from 0 –2 years was used for data collection using Google Forms, followed by anthropometric measurements of the children with the help of WHO standardized growth charts to assess their nutritional status.
 Results: Out of 112 participants, 37.5% of the mothers were less than 25 years old. The mean age of the babies was found to be 11 + 6.49 months. 53.57% of mothers had good knowledge, and 72.32% of mothers followed correct feeding practices.
 Conclusion: There is a significant association of good knowledge among mothers with babies who did not show wasting. There is no association between knowledge and feeding practices being followed.

STUDI FENOMENOLOGI PERILAKU PEMBERIAN MPASI DINI PADA BAYI USIA 0-5 BULAN DI WILAYAH KERJA PUSKESMAS JAGIR KECAMATAN WONOKROMO KOTA SURABAYA

Objective: Smart and healthy children can be realized by their growth and development during the Golden Age which is a critical period because children are at risk of experiencing disorders that can occur due to insufficient or excessive nutritional intake such as lack of exclusive breastfeeding. One of the causes of the lack of exclusive breastfeeding is due to the behavior of early complementary feeding which has a negative impact on infants such as being more susceptible to diarrhea, constipation, coughs, colds, and heat due to the baby's imperfect immune system. To determine the behavior of early complementary feeding in infants aged 0-5 months in the working area of Jagir Health Center, Wonokromo District, Surabaya City. Methods: Qualitative research with a phenomenological approach. The research was conducted at several posyandu in the working area of Jagir Community Health Center, Wonokromo Subdistrict, Surabaya City. The research subjects were mothers who had babies aged 0-5 months who were given early solids in the working area of the Jagir Health Center, Wonokromo Subdistrict, Surabaya City. The sampling technique used snowball sampling with the number of informants known after the research was completed, which amounted to 10 informants. Data analysis using Miles and Hubberman which goes through three stages, namely data reduction, data presentation and conclusion drawing. Results: All informants had low-level thinking skills because their knowledge of complementary feeding was limited to the know category. Informants' attitudes about complementary feeding affect early complementary feeding behavior because mothers who have a positive attitude towards early complementary feeding are likely to practice inappropriate complementary feeding for their babies. Informant’s actions in early complementary feeding were based on several reasons such as fussy children, perceived inadequacy of breast milk and work. Conclusion: The lower the level of knowledge, attitude and action about complementary feeding, the more inclined the informant's behavior will be to provide early complementary feeding

STUDI FENOMENOLOGI PERILAKU PEMBERIAN MPASI DINI PADA BAYI USIA 0-5 BULAN DI WILAYAH KERJA PUSKESMAS JAGIR KECAMATAN WONOKROMO KOTA SURABAYA

Objective: Smart and healthy children can be realized by their growth and development during the Golden Age which is a critical period because children are at risk of experiencing disorders that can occur due to insufficient or excessive nutritional intake such as lack of exclusive breastfeeding. One of the causes of the lack of exclusive breastfeeding is due to the behavior of early complementary feeding which has a negative impact on infants such as being more susceptible to diarrhea, constipation, coughs, colds, and heat due to the baby's imperfect immune system. To determine the behavior of early complementary feeding in infants aged 0-5 months in the working area of Jagir Health Center, Wonokromo District, Surabaya City. Methods: Qualitative research with a phenomenological approach. The research was conducted at several posyandu in the working area of Jagir Community Health Center, Wonokromo Subdistrict, Surabaya City. The research subjects were mothers who had babies aged 0-5 months who were given early solids in the working area of the Jagir Health Center, Wonokromo Subdistrict, Surabaya City. The sampling technique used snowball sampling with the number of informants known after the research was completed, which amounted to 10 informants. Data analysis using Miles and Hubberman which goes through three stages, namely data reduction, data presentation and conclusion drawing. Results: All informants had low-level thinking skills because their knowledge of complementary feeding was limited to the know category. Informants' attitudes about complementary feeding affect early complementary feeding behavior because mothers who have a positive attitude towards early complementary feeding are likely to practice inappropriate complementary feeding for their babies. Informant’s actions in early complementary feeding were based on several reasons such as fussy children, perceived inadequacy of breast milk and work. Conclusion: The lower the level of knowledge, attitude and action about complementary feeding, the more inclined the informant's behavior will be to provide early complementary feeding

Analysis of Quality and Quantity of Complementary Feeding and Nutrition among Children of 6 to 36 Months in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno State, Nigeria

This paper provides a cross sectional analysis of the quality and quantity of complimentary feeding and nutrition among children of 6-36 months in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council. The role of health workers and parents in contextualities in driving, constraining or otherwise influencing complimentary feeding practices is explored through a review of the essential literature. Though this literature is found to have considerably expanded the scope of understanding around health and nutrition, research in the area is found to be lacking in methodological coherence and theoretical substance. Future efforts are needed to systematically bring together the array of insights, methodological approaches, and recommendations in this literature, as well as better bound, differentiate and systemize health and nutrition research in the area going forward. Two initial objectives are advanced through this paper in relation to this dual research imperative. They employed the survey research method. It revealed that knowledge of complementary feeding amongst women in emergencies are poor and government need to scale up support through local enlightenment programs that will boost good health and nutritional practices. Keywords: Complementary Feeding, Nutrition, Quality of complimentary feeding, Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Nigeria.

Assessment of the Impact of Caregivers Complementary Feeding Knowledge on Undernutrition among Children 6 to 36 Months in Borno State, Nigeria

This paper is an assessment of the impact of Caregivers complementary feeding Knowledge on undernutrition among children 6-36 Months in Borno state. Large-scale renewables raise new challenges and provide new opportunities across Health systems. The paper considers the barriers faced by health workers and caregivers in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council in providing nutritional services to infants. We review the current state of knowledge in relation to nutrition. This paper then explores key issues in health and nutrition system structure, the main challenges to the uptake of renewables, and the various existing fiscal and policy approaches to encouraging health services. We also highlight possible ways of moving forward to ensure more widespread health management systems. Keywords: Caregivers, Feed Knowledge. Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Undernutrition.

Risk factors for 6-to-24-month-old toddlers in district of Tanara: survey of hygiene sectors, worm infection, and complementary feeding to reduce stunting

Background: Children in Indonesia still struggle against being stunted, wasted, and underweight. In 2018, 30.8 % of children under five years old were stunted, in 2022, it had decreased to 21.6%. The stunting rate in Pandeglang Regency in 2019 was 41.6%, whereas the incidence in Banten Province was 24.1%. This study aims to determine factors that influence the occurrence of stunting in children aged 6–24 months in Tanara District, Serang Regency, Indonesia. Methods: A cross-sectional approach was used on a sample consisting of 40 mothers with children aged 6–24 months in September 2020, selected using consecutive sampling from nine subdistricts. Results: Of the total respondents, 21 (52.5%) have stunted children aged 6–24 months, 28 (70%) children had completed exclusive breastfeeding, and 65% had poor knowledge of complementary feeding. Findings reveal a relationship between the incidence of stunting and the history of infectious disease, a lack of complementary feeding knowledge, and a lack of a healthy life attitude. Conclusions: The most influential factor in stunting in children aged 6–24 months was the history of infectious disease and the attitude toward a healthy life. A lower history of infectious disease in children under five will give a low incidence of stunting; conversely, a higher attitude toward healthy living lowers the incidence of stunting. In this study, the specific nutrition intervention programs required are learning classes for mothers, whether they are mothers of infants/toddlers or pregnant women. Moreover, the improvement of sensitive intervention programs for environmental hygiene needs to be encouraged, which is conducted by the local government and the community. The need to integrate nutrition-specific and sensitive interventions into efforts to improve children’s health should be met so that the handling of nutritional problems can be sustainable.

Demographic Characteristics of Mothers Related to Mother's Knowledge in Providing MP-ASI

Complementary food for brastfeeding (CFB) can ideally be given at the age of 6 months. But in fact there are still mothers who give CFB when the baby is not yet 6 months old. This causes an increase in mortality and morbidity in infants. The purpose of this study was to analyze the characteristics associated with complementary feeding. This research method is quantitative with a cross sectional approach. The sampling technique in this study was purposive sampling with a total sample of 54 respondents. The results of the study reported that the higher the mother's education, the better the knowledge about giving CFB automatically (OR 7.2, p value 0.005). Mothers with primigravidas increased the risk of good knowledge in giving complementary foods (OR 4.3, nilap p 0.04). The conclusion is that the characteristics associated with increasing knowledge of complementary feeding are high maternal education and parity.

Maasai mother's knowledge on complementary feeding practices and nutritional status of children aged 6-24 months in Monduli District, Arusha, Tanzania: A case study of Naitolia village.

Despite Tanzania's achievement in reducing childhood problems, undernutrition is still a problem. Little is known about how mothers' knowledge on complementary feeding practice affects their children nutritional status. Therefore, the study determined how nutritional status of Maasai children aged 6-24 months is related to their mothers or caregivers' knowledge on complementary feeding. A semistructured questionnaire was used in analytical cross-sectional study including 286 Maasai mothers and their 6-24-month-old children. A convenient and snowball sampling were employed in choosing households and mothers. Using SPSS version 20 and ENA for SMART software, demographic variables, mother's complementary feeding knowledge and practices, and anthropometric data were examined. Respondents were mostly young female aged 29 ± 9.5 years, married (89.2%), housewives (88.8%), with no formal education (39.1%). Maasai mothers (51.1%) introduced complementary foods at 4 months. Of all children, 75.2% did not attain minimum acceptable diet, whereas 66.1% and 57.3% did not meet minimum number of meals per day and recommended variety of foods, respectively. Based on complementary feeding practices, underweight was associated with timely introduction of complementary foods (p = .000), minimum dietary diversity (p = .001), and minimum acceptable diet (p = .001). Stunting was associated with minimum acceptable diet (p = .0027). Regarding mother's knowledge, underweight was associated with breastfeeding duration (p = .000) and meals adequacy (p = .014). Wasting was associated with breastfeeding duration (p = .027). Maasai mothers' weaning practices were unsatisfactory and children's nutritional status was poor. Children's nutritional status was significantly associated with mother's understanding on complementary feeding, which was only somewhat adequate.

KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES OF CHILD CAREGIVERS IN FEEDING CHILDREN AGED 6−36 MONTHS AT THE NUTRITIONAL CLINIC OF CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL 1, HO CHI MINH CITY

Aims: To determine the caregivers' knowledge of complementary feeding timing and the practices of breastfeeding and feeding children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out from January 2022 to March 2022 on 256 caregivers of children aged 6-36 months who visited the Nutritional Clinic of Children's Hospital 1, HoChiMinh City, Vietnam. Face-to-face interviews with caregivers were applied to collect data by questionnaire. Results: More than half of caregivers did not have the proper knowledge about the timing of complementary feeding. The correct knowledge about when to feed children with powder, porridge, and rice was respectively 70.3, 29.7, and 7.4%. The rate of breastfed children was 23.0%. The rate of children using bottles with artificial nipples was 60.8%. The children fed four food groups during the weaning period accounted for 62.1%. Conclusions: The study indicates the limitations in knowledge and practices of breastfeeding and complementary feeding in caregivers. It is necessary to continue promoting communication measures to guide the child's feeding during the complementary feeding period.

Training, knowledge and skills of community health volunteers on complementary feeding of children aged 6-23 months in Machakos, Kenya

Background: Community health volunteers (CHVs) could help reduce malnutrition related mortality through advocacy of recommended complementary feeding (CF) practices. Low levels of education, inadequate training, and limited information on their competency in CF of children aged 6-23 months are some challenges these CHVs face. The objective of this study was to establish training, knowledge and skills of CHVs on CF.Method: The study adopted a cross-sectional analytical design. A total of 168 CHVs were randomly selected. A researcher administered questionnaire was used to collect data on knowledge and training of CHVs. Observation checklist was used to assess counselling skills of CHVs on CF. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse data.Results: Findings showed that 23.2%, 66.1%, and 10.7% of participants had high, moderate and low CF knowledge score respectively. Majority (83.9%) of CHVs had fair skills. Significant associations were observed between CHVs’ CF knowledge level and their occupation (AOR=1.63 CI; 1.23-8.25), education (AOR=3.36 CI; 1.07-10.59) and source of income (AOR=3.50 CI; 0.91-13.40). Overall, only 8.3% of the CHVs were competent based on knowledge on CF and their counseling skills to caregivers of children aged 6-23 months.Conclusions: This study rates knowledge of CHVs as moderate and concludes that it is sub-optimal to promote appropriate CF. Counselling skills’ score indicated that CHVs possessed fair skills therefore lack practical skills to execute their duties. MOH and other stakeholders should enhance training of CHVs.

Assessment of complementary feeding knowledge and practices of mothers registered at Anganwadi centers of Jaipur

Background: In children under five, malnutrition is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. If infants are not correctly fed during their first year of life, they will develop significant health problems and be less productive later in life. Considering the importance of this, the knowledge and practices for these infants were assessed.Methods: The study was carried out in the slum areas of Kachchibasti, Jagatpura, Jaipur among 100 mothers of children aged 6-24 months registered at 10 AWC selected on the basis of average functioning. The knowledge was assessed by using a questionnaire and practices of mothers observed by personal home visits (sample size-20 mothers).Results: Thirty-eight per cent of the mothers were not aware about introduction of complementary feeding. 87% of the mothers are housewives and 94% of mothers are literate. Only 49% of the registered children in age group 6-12 months are collecting the supplementary nutrition, while only 62% are in age group 12-24 months is collecting supplementary nutrition.Conclusions: There is a strong need for timely introduction of complementary foods, nutrition counseling during pregnancy, lactation and illness and making the mothers aware that even the community support is required for the nutrition of the children.

The Use of Leaflet as A Health Education Media in Increasing The Knowledge of Complementary Feeding for Breastfeeding Mothers

About a third of children around the world begin their untimely breastfeeding. Although several strategies have been implemented around the world to improve complementary feeding, progress has been slow. Improper feeding of complementary foods remains a significant global public health problem. The purpose of this study aims to determine the use of leaflets as a health education media in increasing the knowledge of complementary food in breastfeeding mothers. The study is Quasi-Experimental. with Pretest-Posttest with a Control Group. The Accidental Sampling sampling technique is breastfeeding mothers who have babies aged 7-24 months as many as 53 mothers as an experimental group and 53 mothers as a control group with the same criteria at the Posyandu of Belang Wetan Village. Primary data were collected with questionnaires containing objective questions. Secondary data with cohorts from village midwives. A hypothesis test is carried out after the pre-test, to find out whether or not there is an influence between free and bound variables, then using a paired sample t-test or paired sample t-test . The results of the analysis obtained a p-value of 0.000 less than 0.05. It can be concluded that there is an influence of health education methods using leaflet media and without using leaflet media on increasing knowledge that has a significant comparison of effectiveness. There is an influence of health education with leaflet media on increasing the knowledge of breastfeeding mothers about complementary feeding of breast milk in infants aged 7-24 months

Complementary feeding practices and its determinants among Fulani mothers in rural Kaduna State, Northwest, Nigeria

Introduction: Complementary feeding plays an important role in children's growth and development. Exclusive breastfeeding provides the best source of nutrients at early stage of life but beyond six months, more nutrients are required than are generally available from breast milk alone. This makes the child vulnerable to developing malnutrition. This study aims to assess the knowledge, practices and factors affecting complementary feeding practices among Fulani mothers in Makarfi Local Government Area, Kaduna state. Methods: The study was cross-sectional in design. A sample of 209 respondents (mother/caregiver – child pair) was selected using a multistage sampling technique. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Mothers' knowledge of complementary feeding and the quality of complementary feeding practices were assessed and scored. Bivariate analysis (Chi square and Fishers' exact test) was used to test for association between socio-demographic factors, and mothers' knowledge, and complementary feeding practices. Statistical significance was determined at an alpha level of 0.05. Results: Results revealed that 93.3% of the Fulani mothers had poor knowledge while only 27.5% had good practices of complementary feeding. The pattern of complementary feeding was characterized by poor dietary diversity. There was a significant association between child's age (p < 0.01); fathers' occupation (p = 0.05) and complementary feeding practices. Conclusion and Recommendations: The study showed that the overall knowledge and practice of complementary feeding among the Fulani mothers/caregivers were poor. Therefore, the need for more education by the state ministry of health, targeted at Fulani mothers towards improving knowledge and practices on complementary feeding. Keywords: Infant feeding, Knowledge, Practices, Complementary feeding, Makarfi, Fulan

Comparison of the agreement between WeChat-based self-administered and interviewer-administered data on infant and young child feeding in China: A test-retest study.

BackgroundMeasuring infant and young child feeding (IYCF) indicators is important in evaluating child health programs and making evidence-based decisions. With Internet and new media rapidly developing, communication apps such as WeChat (the most popular mobile social media platform in China) are widely used and can potentially be used as an alternative way to collect infant and young child feeding information. This study compares data agreement between a WeChat-based self-administered and an interviewer-administered survey on infant and young child feeding information.MethodsWe recruited 297 mothers of children aged 6-23 months in Fenxi County, Shanxi Province, China. Using the Test-Retest method, we first collected data through a self-administered survey using a WeChat-based electronic questionnaire and asked 36 questions on breastfeeding and complementary feeding knowledge, practices, and information sources. We then conducted an interviewer-administered survey using the same questionnaire and compared the data agreement between the two survey methods during the same day. Cohen's kappa score (κ) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were used for data agreement analysis for all 36 questions and six key IYCF indicators. The McNemar test was used to identify differences between the two survey methods for the six key indicators.ResultsThere was substantial or almost perfect agreement for 33 questions (κ/ICC>0.60), and slight or fair agreement for the other 3 questions (κ/ICC<0.40). Agreement of all six key IYCF indicators was substantial or almost perfect (κ = 0.78-0.94), while two indicators showed statistical differences between the two survey methods (P = 0.03 for “Minimum meal frequency” and P = 0.001 for “Minimum accepted diet”). Analysis of reasons for inconsistencies showed that 43.6% of all the inconsistencies were not caused by the self-administered survey method. The cost of the interviewer-administered survey was much higher than that of the self-administered survey: ¥45.9 (US$6.8) vs ¥19.7 (US$2.9) per questionnaire.ConclusionsThe WeChat-based self-administered method can be used for future data collection of infant and young child feeding information in China. Most of the questions and key indicators showed very good agreement without statistical differences between the two methods.

An online education program for improving parent’s knowledge of appropriate complementary feeding and child health

During the Covid-19 pandemic, its socio-economic impact can disrupt children's state of well-being as a vulnerable group. The changes in income and difficulties in accessing healthy and affordable food may affect the complementary feeding (CF) practices, and affect a child's nutritional status, and immunity. Besides, the lack of CF knowledge results in an increment in commercial supplement consumption to patch up nutrient deficiencies or prevent transmission. In this regard, the education program about healthy complementary feeding is essential. The online education program titled "Healthy Complementary Feeding to Protect Child's Health" was attended by 17 of 60 registrants (23,8%). It aimed to improve CF knowledge based on the WHO recommendation on CF, including local food-based CF The program's evaluation results show that the major of the participants were satisfied, 60% of them strongly agreed that it was informative, and 75% of them strongly agreed that the materials were easy to understand. The follow-up results of 14 participants show that the CF knowledge score increased by 10.5% (The before-after mean score). The topic of children refusing to eat was the most beneficial topic for participants (92.9%). The conclusion is that an online-based education program in the pandemic setting can increase the participant's CF knowledge.

Complementary Feeding Social and Behavior Change Communication for Fathers and Mothers Improves Children’s Consumption of Fish and Eggs and Minimum Meal Frequency in Kaduna State, Nigeria

ABSTRACTBackgroundFathers are key influencers of complementary feeding practices, but few studies in low- and middle-income countries have measured the effects of complementary feeding social and behavior change communication (SBCC) targeted at both fathers and mothers.ObjectivesThe aims of this study were to measure the effects of an SBCC intervention on children's dietary diversity (primary outcome) and other complementary feeding indicators, fathers’ and mothers’ complementary feeding knowledge, and fathers’ support for complementary feeding (secondary outcomes).MethodsThe 12-mo intervention in Kaduna State, Nigeria, engaged parents through community meetings, religious services, home visits from community health extension workers (CHEWs), mobile phone messages (fathers only), and mass media. Cross-sectional population-based surveys of cohabiting fathers and mothers with a child aged 6–23 mo were conducted, and regression models were used to compare results at baseline (n = 497) and endline (n = 495).ResultsChildren's minimum dietary diversity did not change from baseline to endline (62% to 65%, P = 0.441). Children's consumption of fish (36% to 44%, P = 0.012) and eggs (8% to 20%, P = 0.004) and minimum meal frequency (58% to 73%, P < 0.001) increased. Fathers’ and mothers’ knowledge of the timing of introduction of different foods and meal frequency improved. Fathers’ support for child feeding by providing money for food increased (79% to 90%, P < 0.001). Fathers’ and mothers’ reported intervention exposure was low (11–26% across types of SBCC). Child feeding outcomes were not associated with fathers’ exposure. Children's odds of both fish and egg consumption increased significantly with mothers’ exposure to community meetings, religious services, home visits, and television spots, and children's odds of minimum meal frequency increased significantly with mothers’ exposure to home visits.ConclusionsA multipronged SBCC intervention improved complementary feeding practices, fathers’ and mothers’ knowledge of complementary feeding, and fathers’ support for complementary feeding, despite low levels of reported exposure, which may have been influenced by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disruptions. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT04835662.

WhatsApp-based complementary feeding education and counselling for adolescent mothers: A one-group pre-post study

More than two-thirds of deaths in children are related to improper feeding practices, especially in adolescent mothers, with very low levels of complementary feeding knowledge, less responsiveness, and few skills of proper feeding practices. The area of Banguntapan III Public Health Center (PHC) has the highest prevalence of adolescent mothers in 2018-2019. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of WhatsApp-based complementary feeding education and counseling for adolescent mothers who have children aged 6-24 months at Banguntapan III PHC on complementary feeding knowledge and practice. A quasi-experimental with one group pre-post test was conducted (n=10 adolescent mothers) on February-May 2021 at the Banguntapan III PHC area. The education program was conducted by trained cadres for 8 days through the WhatsApp group, then followed by asynchronous counseling once through WhatsApp private chat. Change of outcome was tested using independent sample T-test and McNemar test. The range of adolescent mothers’ age in this study was 19-20 years, with education level of junior high school (50%), and do not work (80%). The results showed that WhatsApp-based education and counselling had a significant effect on increasing the adolescent mother's IYCF knowledge (Δ = 1.1 ± 2.28) with a p-value of 0.017 &lt; a (0.05). Meanwhile, the effect of the intervention on the IYCF practice by adolescent mothers was not significant, with a p-value of 0.311 &gt; a (0.05). In conclusion, WhatsApp-based education and counselling for adolescent mothers can increase their level of complementary feeding knowledge, but was not been able to improve their feeding practices for infants/children aged 6-24 months.

Mothers' knowledge and practices on breastfeeding and complementary feeding in an urban slum area and rural area in Kenya: A cross-sectional interview study.

Maternal breastfeeding and complementary feeding knowledge is an important determinant of childrens' long-term health and development. This study aims to account for associations between knowledge and practices in Kenya and report the food consumption of children from birth to 18 months. In 2015 mother-child pairs were recruited from Mother-and-Child Health Centers; 415 in an urban slum in Nairobi and 364 in rural Machakos. Knowledge and practice scores were calculated from questionnaire variables and 24-h food frequency questionnaire. The associations of knowledge and practices were studied with regression analysis. Breastfeeding knowledge (Nairobi 6.3/9, Machakos 5.9/9) and practices (Nairobi 7.5/8, Machakos 7.2/8) were good in both areas. Complementary feeding knowledge was not as good (Nairobi 7.5/14, Machakos 7.1/14). Minimum meal frequency was reached by almost 80% of the children but dietary diversity was low (Nairobi 2.7 [SD 1.4], Machakos 2.4. [SD 1.3]). Only 27% of children in Nairobi and 13% in Machakos were fed a minimum acceptable diet. The complementary feeding knowledge score was associated only with minimum dietary diversity in Nairobi (OR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.105-1.514). Infant and young child feeding knowledge and practices were on a similar level in both areas. Future interventions should focus on improving dietary diversity.