Browsing by Author "Muasya, Bibiana Jumwa"
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- ItemDeterminants of infant and young child feeding practices of children 0-23 months among agro-pastoralist communities in east Pokot in Baringo County, Kenya(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-03) Muasya, Bibiana Jumwa; Du Plessis, Lizanne; Kigaru, Dorcus Mbithe; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Global Health. Human Nutrition.ENGLISH SUMMARY : Introduction: Adequate nutrition is critical to child development and survival and can be achieved by appropriate Infant Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices. It is recommended that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life with the introduction of appropriate and safe complementary foods at six months, and continuation of breastfeeding for up to two years of age and beyond in order to achieve optimal growth, normal development and comprehensive health. Regrettably, this period from birth to two years of age is often marked by growth faltering, nutrient deficiencies and infections due to inappropriate IYCF practices. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the determinants of IYCF practices of children 0-23 months among agro-pastoralist communities in East Pokot Sub-county in Baringo County, Kenya. Methods: The study adopted a cross-sectional, analytical design. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 302 mothers of infants 0-23 months old using researcher-administered, structured questionnaires. Information on demographic and socio-economic characteristics of households and IYCF practices were collected. Since the ages of the participating children ranged from 0-23 months and the indicators differed in months measured, the total (N and n) for each indicator-age category differed. Results: About half (52%; n=157) of mothers-initiated breastfeeding within one hour of birth. Exclusive breastfeeding up to six months was practiced by 38.5% (n=55) and continued breastfeeding up to two years by 7.9% (n=3) of the mothers. Forty two and a half percent (42.5%; n=127) of children were given pre-lacteal feeds and 31% (n=49) were bottle fed. Almost two-thirds (60%; n=24) of the children aged six to eight months had received complementary foods at the time of study, 59.2% (n=122) attained minimum meal frequency while dietary diversity was reached by 53.3% (n=49). Twenty three percent (22.8%; n=47) of children 6-23 months of age attained the minimum acceptable diet. There was a significant relationship between demographic (mother’s age, educational level and marital status) and socio-economic characteristics (source of family income, occupation of the mother and income allocated to food) and whether the child was ever breastfed (ρ=0.000); while no significant relationship was found between timely introduction of CF and demographic and socio-economic characteristics (ρ > 0.05). Conclusion: IYCF practices and its determinants were investigated in this study. Breastfeeding practices were found to be sub-optimal. More than half of the study population practiced appropriate complementary feeding practices. Socio-cultural determinants negatively influenced breastfeeding practices e.g. by introducing herbal concoction to infants before six months of age. Poor IYCF practices could also be attributed to demographic determinants like low level of maternal education and marital status as well as poor access to healthcare and poor physical infrastructure of the area. Targeted maternal, infant and young child health promotion programmes will be key in promoting optimal IYCF practices in East Pokot Sub-county.