Introduction: Stunting persists as a public health problem in the Philippines, affecting 30% of under-five children. This study aimed to identify the drivers of stunting in young Filipino children aged 6-23 months. Methods: Data were extracted from the cross-sectional Updating Survey conducted in 2015 by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST). Potential predictors of stunting, which were categorised into childrelated characteristics, feeding practices, maternal socio-demographic status and health practices, and household economic and food security status, were examined using descriptive and regression analyses. Results: Of the 2,275 children aged 6-23 months, 18.7% were stunted and 8.3% were severely stunted. The risk of stunting increased significantly among older children aged 12-23 months (relative risk ratio, RRR 3.04), males within 6-23 months of age (RRR 1.99), and low-birth-weight infants (RRR 2.19). Children born from teenage mothers (RRR 1.90), mothers with short stature (RRR 2.33), and mothers with low education (RRR 1.59) posed higher risks of becoming stunted relative to their counterparts. Mothers with >4 children (RRR 2.44), coming from the poorest households (RRR 4.27), having untimely introduction of complementary foods (RRR 4.44), and not meeting the minimum meal frequency (RRR 2.30) increased the risks of severe stunting. Conclusion: The study illustrated the multi-factorial nature of stunting among Filipino children aged 6-23 months old. Therefore, a multi-sectoral approach is needed to address the underlying factors of stunting among young Filipino children to help achieve the country’s nutrition targets by 2025.

Background: Despite the nationwide micronutrient powder (MNP) supplementation, the Philippines only saw limited success in reducing the prevalence of anemia-a condition that has remained a public health concern among young children. Objective: To assess and explore the acceptability and compliance to MNP and Bigas-Mongo (BigMo) complementary food blend among mothers/caregivers of children aged 6 to 23 months and the promotion of these products by community health workers (CHWs). Methods: This study was part of the randomized controlled trial involving 3 methods of data collection: (1) bimonthly visits to mothers and caregivers for 6 months to determine the level of acceptability and compliance of the 4 intervention groups; (2) initial and final interviews with mothers/ caregivers (initial ¼ 141; final ¼ 130) to gather their experiences and difficulties in MNP and BigMo preparation and feeding; and (3) focus group discussion (n ¼ 4) among CHWs (n ¼ 13) to understand their perceptions and difficulties in promoting MNP and BigMo. Results: The overall compliance to MNP consumption was 74.7%, with some difference between the groups. Analysis of the information received from mothers/caregivers showed that maternal adaptive strategies in preparing and feeding MNP to their children could affect MNP use, while nonreceptiveness of mothers to integrating MNP into the child's feeding routine, perceived side effects, and perceived unfavorable taste and smell were key factors considered to limit MNP use.

Background Maternal, infant and young child health and nutrition are affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aim This study aimed to present the snapshot situation of maternal health practices of pregnant women including infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices of children under two during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A rapid nutrition assessment survey (RNAS) was conducted through phone interview in nine selected areas from November 3 to December 3, 2020. A multi-stage sampling design was employed in the selection of areas with low, medium, and high risk categories across the islands of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in the Philippines. A total of 792 mother-child pairs, and 148 pregnant women were covered. Results Majority (84.5%) of pregnant women availed pre-natal check-ups, 82.4% of them had micronutrient supplements, of which 20.5% took IFA tablets. Almost 60.0% of children under two were currently breastfed during the pandemic, with 60.8% of infants less than 6 months receiving breastmilk exclusively. Appropriate complementary feeding practices based on this study were not drastically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, access to pregnancy-related information, along with breastfeeding and complementary feeding messages and advice were disrupted during the community lockdown. Conclusion Although maternal and child feeding practices were unchanged, innovative delivery of community health and nutrition services such as tele-visits by midwives, and community health workers are some of the ways to move forward in improving the health and nutrition of women and children in the wake of the pandemic and during subsequent waves.

AimsThe nutrition and dietetics service in Philippine public hospitals was implemented by the Department of Health in 2016 to standardise the daily allowance and nutritional content of inpatient meals. Five years later, it is timely for the Department of Health to assess the quality of inpatient meals and mandated nutrition processes in areas such as staffing, food service, and outcomes monitoring.MethodsA mixed‐method sequential explanatory design was employed using (1) quantitative assessment through a facility survey (n = 193 hospitals) and (2) qualitative exploration of quantitative results through 6 focus group discussions (n = 36 hospitals).ResultsPhilippine public hospitals were unequipped with the inputs necessary to implement processes that produce high‐quality meals for patients. The hospitals were unable to comply with the required minimum meal allowance (51%), nutritional content of meals (40%), and food service standards. Moreover, they had insufficient human resources and inefficient food procurement practices.ConclusionsThe quality of nutrition care and inpatient meals in Philippine public hospitals, who serve mostly people on low incomes, is a neglected problem in the Philippines. Moving forward, a systems approach involving the Department of Health, its regional offices, and hospital management is necessary to equip Philippine public hospitals with the inputs and structures necessary to provide high‐quality nutrition care and inpatient meals that will facilitate patient recovery and overall patient health.

Introduction: Age-appropriate feeding in the first two years of life is essential to a child’s growth and development, with health implications that persist throughout life. This study examined the adherence to age-appropriate feeding practices among children 0-23.9 months old based on a constructed index, its association with anthropometric growth, and factors affecting adherence. Methods: A total of 9,138 children aged 0-23.9 months with complete information on infant and young child feeding practices (IYCF), anthropometric measurements, maternal information, and household characteristics were included in the study. Data were extracted from a nationwide survey conducted in 2018-2019. Results: Among children aged 0-23.9 months, 20.7% adhered to age-appropriate feeding criteria. More than half (57.7%) of children below six months adhered to age-appropriate exclusive breastfeeding practices, while 1.4% of children aged 6-8.9 months old started complementary feeding. Continued breastfeeding at 12 months of age while receiving complementary feeding was uncommon (11%). Significantly higher z-scores for weight-for-age (-0.6±0.04), height-for-age (-0.8±0.05), and weight-for-height (-0.2±0.05) were noted among children who adhered to age-appropriate feeding practices compared to those who did not. Child’s age and birth weight, as well as mother’s age, education, and working status, were found to significantly influence the likelihood of adhering to age-appropriate feeding index. Conclusion: Filipino infants and young children under two years of age have low adherence to age-appropriate feeding practices, putting them at a higher risk of repeated occurrence of infection that could lead to stunting in early life.