Infant and Young Child Feeding Practice in Predominantly Food Insecure Communitites of Hawassa Zuria Woreda in Sidama Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia

Achamyelesh, G/Tsadik (2010) Infant and Young Child Feeding Practice in Predominantly Food Insecure Communitites of Hawassa Zuria Woreda in Sidama Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.

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Abstract

Background: Inappropriate feeding practices and sub-optimal or no breastfeeding remains the greatest threat to child health and survival globally. Appropriate breastfeeding alone could save the lives of more than 3,500 children every day. Over two-third of deaths are often associated with inappropriate feeding practice occurring in the 1st year of life. Objective: The main objective of this study was to assess and describe feeding practices of infant and young children in predominantly food insecure communities. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the feeding practices of mothers of infants and young children 6-23 months. Dietary diversity, meal frequency, time of introduction to complementary feeding was used to measure optimal infant and young child feeding. And also household food security status measuring question were used to assess the food security status of the households. Result: Breastfeeding is universal in the study area. More than 95% of mothers reported breastfeeding at the time of the survey .Early initiation of breastfeeding is 67%. The majority of mothers 72.7% reported use of prelacteal feeding. More than 95% of mothers reported breast feeding at the time of the survey. The rate of exclusive breast feeding was only 12.4%. The majority of mothers (79 %) introduced complementary feeding too early, before six months of age. Minimum dietary diversity was 16% among infants 6-8 months and 27.7 % among those 9-23 months. Of the children 6-23 months of age 57.6% receive minimum recommended meal frequency. Optimal complementary feeding practice was identified in only 17.2%. Food insecurity with moderate and with severe hunger was 64.5% and 10.5%, respectively. Food insecurity was one of the factors that contributed to sub optimal feeding practice. Maternal education &antenatal care were factors related to infant and young child feeding practices. Conclusion: The prevalence of optimal infant and young child feeding practice was very low and household food security status was one of the factors related to optimal feeding practice. The rate of exclusive breastfeeding was very low. To reduce child morbidity and mortality of the infant and young child, the influence of maternal educational status and antenatal care provision should not be neglected .Integration of infant and young child feeding (IYCF) program with the other routine health service program is important to optimize the feeding practice and also to improve and maintain standard growth and development of the children.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Divisions:	Africana
Depositing User:	Vincent Mpoza
Date Deposited:	04 Jul 2018 07:37
Last Modified:	04 Jul 2018 07:37
URI:	http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/5946

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