Knowledge, attitudes and practices(KAP) of mothers/caregivers on infant and young child feeding are key factors for optimal nutritional status, health and growth of the children. A community-based, cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted during January 2017 to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices on infant and young child feeding (IYCF) of mothers/ caregivers who lived in peri-urban areas of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina-Faso.This study was carried out before a nutrition education-based intervention and included 245 mothers/ caregivers that were randomly selected in the peri-urban communities of Bobo-Dioulasso. A semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire developed based on Food and Agriculture Organization knowledge, attitudes and practices assessment method was used to collect KAP and socio-economic data. Analyses were performed using SPSS version 20. For this study, authorization was obtained from the regional directorate of health of the Hauts-Bassins region. Verbal consent was obtained after the participants had been informed about the study objectives. Among the 245 study participants, 55.1% were aged less than 30 years. More than 3 out of 4 mothers/caregivers (76.3%) were Muslim and 59.2% of them were illiterate. Almost all mothers/caregivers (98.8%) had adequate knowledge for breastfeeding and 87.9% of them knew about exclusive breast feeding up to 6 months. In addition, 91.8% of mothers/caregivers reported that they gave colostrum at birth. Furthermore, 67.5% of the mothers started breastfeeding within one hour after delivery. Based on mothers/caregivers’ report on complementary foods consumed by 6-59 months children in the previous 24h before the interview, cereals were the most reported consumed food group (89.8%) followed by meat and fish products (28.6%). This study found that mothers/caregivers had adequate knowledge about IYCF in general. However, mothers/caregivers’ practice of complementary feeding was inappropriate. Cereals were the food group consumed by most of children aged 6-59 months raising the needs for interventions, such as cooking demonstrations during postnatal visits in health facilities,to improve complementary feeding in this population.

The study assessed infant and young child feeding practices and associated factors among 6–23-month-old children in order to inform ongoing and future programs and projects in Bobo-Dioulasso area, in Burkina Faso. Information on child feeding practices and determinants in urban areas is limited in Burkina Faso. Data of 301children, collected in 2013, were considered in this secondary analysis. Questionnaires were used to collect data on respondents’ socio-demographic and economic situation. In addition to the information on child care practices, food consumption data were also collected using a 24h dietary recall questionnaire. Indicators of minimum dietary diversity (MDD), minimum meal frequency (MMF), and minimum acceptable diet (MAD) were constructed and proportion of children meeting these indicators calculated. Binary logistic regression was used to see the association between the outcome variables and explanatory variables, and multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with minimum dietary diversity, meal frequency and minimum acceptable diet. Data cleaning and analysis were done using SPSS version 25. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95 % confidence interval (CI) were computed to measure the strength of association. Almost 3 out of 4 mothers (72.5%) were housewives and 62.4% of them were illiterate. Among the 301 children, 40.2% were aged 18-23 months. About half of the children (45.2%) were born to mothers from high income households. The proportion of children 6–23 months who met the MDD and MMF for breastfed and non-breastfed children was 18.3% and 28.9%, respectively. Less than one fifth of breastfed children (16.1%) received MAD. Girls were more likely to meet the MDD (p=0.02) and MAD (p=0.04) than boys. The proportion of children 6-23 months meeting the three complementary feeding practice indicators in Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso were far below the WHO-recommended standard of 90% coverage. The MDD and MAD were positively associated to the female gender. This finding could be used to better target the children in order to improve the effects of the ongoing or future interventions in increasing appropriate complementary feeding practices. Key words: Dietary diversity, acceptable diet, associated factors, children 6-23 months