Factors influencing infant and young child feeding practices among children 0- 24 months in Nakivale Refugee Settlement Isingiro District, Uganda
Abstract
Worldwide, suboptimal breastfeeding still accounts for deaths of 1.4 million children aged
less than five years. Most refugee assessments do not collect data on factors affecting Infant
and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices other than rates of exclusive breastfeeding and
age at which complementary foods are introduced and type of food introduced.
Objectives
The general objective of the study was to establish infant and young child feeding practices
as well as factors associated with them in Nakivale refugee settlement.
Methodology
The study was conducted among 831 mothers who were selected using systematic random
sampling from 25 villages in Nakivale refugee settlement. An analytical cross-sectional study
utilizing both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods was used. Quantitative data
were analyzed using SPSS and qualitative information from focus group discussions and key
informant interviews was coded into key themes.
Results
Out of 831 respondents 19.3% (160/831 ) where found to have initiated breastfeeding within
one hour of giving birth, practiced exclusive breastfeeding or still practicing it and initiated
complementary feeding at six months. Factors that were found to influence infant and young
child feeding practices included secondary education level (OR 1.2 95% CI 1.1- 2.1 p= 0.04),
having three children (OR 1.7 95% CI 1.1- 2.8, p= 0.03), nutrition education (OR 1.3 95% CI
1.1-21.9. p= 0.01), influence from health workers in the settlement (OR 1.3 95% CI 1.1- 1.9,
p= 0.04) and cultural acceptability ( OR= 2.4 95% CI 1.1-5.4 p= 0.03) at bivariate level
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while at multivariate level, significant factors included secondary education level (OR 2.8
95% CI 1.1- 7.1, p= 0.03), influence from health workers ( OR 3.1 95 % CI 1.4- 7.4, p= 0.02)
and cultural acceptability ( OR= 2.5 95% CI 1.2-8.6 p= 0.03) in the refugee settlement were
found to be significantly associated.
Conclusion
The proportion of mothers of children 0- 6 months practicing exclusive breast feeding was at
52.1 percent and while a proportion of 8.4 percent of mothers of children 6- 24 months
practiced appropriate complementary feeding in Nakivale refugee settlement.
The factors that influenced infant and young child feeding practices in Nakivale refugee
settlement in Isingiro district included education level of respondents, having three children
as individual factors, Attending nutrition education session at the health facility after delivery
at both bivariate and multivariate level and Influence from health workers during community
nutrition education session was a community factor associated with practicing appropriate
infant and young child feeding practices at both bivariate and multivariate level.
Recommendations
Nutrition education on appropriate infant and young child feeding should be strengthened at
facility and community level. Community based breastfeeding and mother to mother support
groups should be established in the refugee settlement. Design Information, Education and
Communication material for nutrition programs on infant and young child feeding practices
that target mothers who are unable to read and write. UNHCR and WFP Support regular
nutrition assessments that will provide additional information on factors that influence infant
young child feeding practices
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