Determinants of inappropriate complementary feeding practices in young children in Sri Lanka: secondary data analysis of Demographic and Health Survey 2006–2007

Abstract

Inappropriate complementary feeding increases risk of undernutrition, illness and mortality in infants and children. This paper aimed to determine the factors associated with inappropriate complementary feeding practices in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka Demographic and Health Survey 2006-2007 used a stratified two-stage cluster sample of ever-married women 15-49 years, and included details about foods given to children aged 6-23 months during the last 24 h. The new World Health Organization indicators for infant and young child feeding (IYCF) - (introduction of solid/semi-solid or soft foods; minimum dietary diversity; minimum meal frequency; and minimum acceptable diet) were calculated for 2106 children aged 6-23 months. These indicators were examined against explanatory variables with multivariate analyses to identify factors associated with inappropriate practices. Eighty-four per cent of infants aged 6-8 months were introduced to complementary food. The proportion of infants aged 6-8 months who consumed eggs (7.5%), fruits and vegetables other than those rich in vitamin A (29.6%) and flesh foods (35.2%) was low. Of children aged 6-23 months, minimum dietary diversity was 71%, minimum meal frequency 88% and minimum acceptable diet 68%. Children who lived in tea estate sector had a lower dietary diversity and minimum acceptable diet than children in urban and rural areas. Other determinants of not receiving a diverse or acceptable diet were lower maternal education, shorter maternal height, lower wealth index, lack of postnatal visits, unsatisfactory exposure to media and acute respiratory infections. In conclusion, complementary feeding indicators were adequate except in the 6-11 months age group. Subgroups with inappropriate feeding practices should be the focus of IYCF promotion programs.

Compliance to National Infant and Young Child Feeding Recommendation and Associated Factor Among Mothers of Children 6-23 months-of-age in Gombora District, Southern Ethiopia: Community Based Cross Sectional Study

“…This result was in agreement with the findings from Sirlanka, Nepal and Tanzania [14,15,16] This could be because of educated mothers were more likely to have information and understand the education message.…”

Dietary Diversity Feeding Practice and Determinants among Children Aged 6-23 Months in Kemba Woreda, Southern Ethiopia Implication for Public Health Intervention

“…This community based cross-sectional study identified the prevalence of dietary diversity feeding practice was 131 (23.3%) fed their child four or more varieties of foods and the rest 431 (76.7%) feed ≤3 food items from the seven food groups in 24 hour preceding the survey based on the WHO recommendation and indicators [26,28], the finding is higher than national prevalence which is 10.8% and relatively higher from recent study conducted in North Ethiopia Mekelle city which is 17.8% [29],and relatively lower than from finding from Nepalese (30.4%) [30].…”

“…The possible explanation for this variations in the prevalence of dietary diversity feeding practice have been observed and direct comparisons is difficult because of differences in methodology (the current study was conducted by primary data source and the previous were utilize secondary data source [10,25], study setting, study population dynamics, timing of the study, and related socioeconomic factors [29,31]. Even though Ethiopian Government implemented through health extension programs by adapting WHO infant and young child feeding practice guideline [27]; however the achievement is not satisfactory in dietary diversity feeding practice which is a core feeding practice for the wellbeing of a child [23,29].…”

Knowledge on complementary feeding among parents of children aged 4-12 months attending a base hospital in a rural district in Sri Lanka

“…There is a consistently noted link between proper infant feeding and the educational level of parents 9 . Mother's education was found to have a significant impact on appropriate infant feeding after a comparative study involving 5 Asian countries 10 .…”