Infant And Young Child Feeding Practices: A Study Among Mothers In Obuasi Municipality

ABSTRACT

Background: Optimal Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices are established

recommendations for feeding children 0-23 months to achieve ultimate growth and development. Ideal

nourishment throughout the first 2 years of a child’s life is predominantly significant, as it leads to

high intelligent quotient and lowers morbidity and mortality. Any damage caused within two

years of life is reversible but beyond is irreparable. Inappropriate feeding practices are known to

be among causes of malnutrition and death. This study assessed IYCF practices among mothers

with children aged 0 - 23 months to obtain baseline of IYCF practices.

Methods: A Cross-sectional survey was used to collect quantitative data using a structured

questionnaire. The study was conducted among 228 mothers attending Child Welfare Clinic with

their children from the five sub–municipality capital health facilities in Obuasi Municipality.

Simple random sampling method was used to select the mothers for the study. This study

assessed breastfeeding, and complementary feeding practices, 24 hour food recall as well as

infant nutritional status, from anthropometry measurements. The measurements were classified

into underweight, stunting and wasting. The data was analysed using stata 15.Frequencies,

percentage, chi square and bivariate logistic regression model were run to determine relations

between the dependent and independent variables.

Results: The findings showed that 93.7% delivered at the health facility. Moreover, they all gave

the colostrum to their babies. The percentage for children delivered with low birth weight was

15.6% and there was 71.6% of new born who early initiation of breastfeeding started within the

first hour after birth. However, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) among children below 6 months

was 58.2%. Only quarter of the children continued breastfeeding at age 2 years. Sixty four

percent of all the children within 6-8 months started complementary feeding and only 8.7 % used

v

the appropriate food of solid and semi-solid food. Koko (cereal porridge) and cerelac (instant

cereal food) were the first common food introduced to the children. Beside, only 15.6%o met

minimum acceptable diet. Children who were bottle fed the previous day of the study was 27.3

%. Prevalence of under-weight, stunting and wasting were 7%, 7% and 6.1%, respectively.

Infants with a good Infant Feeding Score were less likely to be well-nourished as compared to

those with poor Infant Feeding Score (OR=0.83; 95%CI=0.23-3.02; P-value=0.78).

Conclusion: Generally breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices were suboptimal but

breastfeeding practices were quite good. The nutritional statuses of the children were quite good.

This study found no association between maternal characteristics, feeding practices and

nutritional status of the children from the 24 hour food recall.

Health professionals, especially the Community Health staff, Midwives and other partners in

health should be empowered with IYCF skills, knowledge and feeding counseling tools. With

this they can apply at the community to improve upon the IYCF practices, especially breast milk

expression, texture of food and minimum acceptable diet in Obuasi municipality.