Complementary Feeding and Malnutrition among Infants and Young Children Aged 6–23 Months in Rural Areas of China

Abstract

This study investigated the nutrition and complementary feeding (CF) of infants and young children (IYC) aged 6–23 months in rural areas of China in 2018 and explored the relationship between CF and nutritional status. We measured the length and weight, calculated the z-scores, and detected micronutrients in the hair. The status of CF was obtained from the respondents by a 24-h dietary recall. IYC were classified into clusters using a two-step cluster analysis. The CF and nutritional status of each cluster were analyzed and compared. The prevalence of stunting, wasting, and overweight in the IYC in rural Chinese areas was 7.1%, 3.0%, and 3.7%, respectively. The median levels of Ca, Fe, and Zn in hair were 550.10 µg/g, 62.94 µg/g, and 132.86 µg/g, respectively. The prevalence of meeting the requirements of minimum dietary diversity (MDD), minimum meal frequency (MMF), and minimum acceptable diet (MAD) was 68.9%, 77.9%, and 46.4%, respectively. IYC with a higher prevalence of MDD, MMF, and MAD were more inclined to maintain a healthy status. The prevalence of undernutrition and overweight of 6- to 23-month-old IYC in rural areas of China was low. However, lack of trace elements was evident, and MAD prevalence remained low.

Effects of the Duration of Ying Yang Bao Consumption on Hemoglobin Concentration in Infants and Young Children in Less Developed Areas of China

“…Study data were obtained from the Nutrition Improvement Project on Children in Poor Areas of China (NIPCPAC) in 2018–2019. As described in our previous article, this study used multistage sampling, probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling, and random equidistant sampling to select samples [ 11 ]. Through multistage random sampling, 9 of the 110 monitoring counties introduced to YYB were selected as intervention counties (Longhua, Moyu, Guiding, Tongyu, Yunlong, Songxian, Shilong, Yanchi, and Huangzhong), and 3 of the 40 not introduced in YYB were selected as control counties (Weichang, Luopu, and Fuquan) [ 25 , 26 ].…”

“…PSM is a statistical method that can effectively reduce some biases and confounding variables, thus allowing for a more reasonable comparison between groups [ 32 , 33 ]. Based on previous studies, the following 11 factors were considered as confounders: (1) baseline: age, sex, birth order, SES, education and occupation of caregivers [ 26 ]; (2) complementary feeding: MDD, MMF, MAD, and taking other supplements [ 11 ]; and (3) Hb levels of infants before taking YYB. To match as many pairs as possible, IYC from YYB-FG and YYB-NFG were 1:1 matched without replacement by the logit of the nearest propensity score, with a caliper of 0.10 times the standard deviation (SD).…”

“…Among these, unacceptable complementary feeding is the prominent factor [ 10 ]. IYC aged 6–23 months need more nutrition and energy for growth and development than at any other time in their life [ 11 ], and anemia occurs when rapid growth in IYC exceeds the availability of dietary iron. Supplementation with various micronutrients is a low-cost measure for increasing hemoglobin (Hb) concentration.…”

Systematic Literature Review of the Nutrient Status, Intake, and Diet Quality of Chinese Children across Different Age Groups

“…Diet quality was assessed using several diet quality measures ( Appendix B , Table A2 ) [ 42 , 43 , 49 , 54 , 56 , 59 , 66 , 83 , 88 , 93 , 94 , 104 ]. The minimum acceptable diet (MAD) was not met by 93–95% of children between 6 and 23 months old in rural Qinghai province, Guinan county, and Huzhu county [ 61 ], and by 82% in Shanxi and Guizhou provinces in 2013 [ 66 ].…”

“…The minimum acceptable diet (MAD) was not met by 93–95% of children between 6 and 23 months old in rural Qinghai province, Guinan county, and Huzhu county [ 61 ], and by 82% in Shanxi and Guizhou provinces in 2013 [ 66 ]. In 2018, 46.4% of those aged 6–23 months in rural communities in Guizhou, Henan, Xinjiang, Hubei, and Hebei met the requirements for MAD [ 49 ].…”