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. 2021 Jan 29;5(2):nzab003.
doi: 10.1093/cdn/nzab003. eCollection 2021 Feb.

An Integrated Enhanced Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) and Micronutrient Powder Intervention Improved Select IYCF Practices Among Caregivers of Children Aged 12-23 Months in Eastern Uganda

Nicole D Ford  1 , Laird J Ruth  1 , Sarah Ngalombi  2 , Abdelrahman Lubowa  3 , Siti Halati  4 , Martin Ahimbisibwe  4 , Ralph D Whitehead Jr  1 , Carine Mapango  1 , Maria Elena Jefferds  1
Affiliations

An Integrated Enhanced Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) and Micronutrient Powder Intervention Improved Select IYCF Practices Among Caregivers of Children Aged 12-23 Months in Eastern Uganda

Nicole D Ford et al. Curr Dev Nutr. .

Abstract

Background: There is little evidence of the impact of integrated programs distributing nutrition supplements with behavior change on infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices.

Objective: We evaluated the impact of an integrated IYCF/micronutrient powder intervention on IYCF practices among caregivers of children aged 12-23 mo in eastern Uganda.

Methods: We used pre-post data from 2 population-based, cross-sectional surveys representative of children aged 12-23 mo in Amuria (intervention) and Soroti (nonintervention) districts (n = 2816). Caregivers were interviewed in June/July at baseline in 2015 and 12 mo after implementation in 2016. We used generalized linear mixed models with cluster as a random effect to calculate the average intervention effect on receiving IYCF counseling, ever breastfed, current breastfeeding, bottle feeding, introducing complementary feeding at age 6 mo, continued breastfeeding at ages 1 and 2 y, minimum meal frequency (MMF), minimum dietary diversity, minimum acceptable diet (MAD), and consumption of food groups the day preceding the survey.

Results: Controlling for child age and sex, household wealth and food security, and caregiver schooling, the intervention was positively associated with having received IYCF counseling by village health team [adjusted prevalence difference-in-difference (APDiD): +51.6%; 95% CI: 44.0%, 59.2%]; timely introduction of complementary feeding (APDiD: +21.7%; 95% CI: 13.4%, 30.1%); having consumed organs or meats (APDiD: +9.0%; 95% CI: 1.4%, 16.6%) or vitamin A-rich fruits or vegetables (APDiD: +17.5%; 95% CI: 4.5%, 30.5%); and MMF (APDiD: +18.6%; 95% CI: 11.2%, 25.9%). The intervention was negatively associated with having consumed grains, roots, or tubers (APDiD: -4.4%; 95% CI: -7.0%, -1.7%) and legumes, nuts, or seeds (APDiD: -15.6%; 95% CI: -26.2%, -5.0%). Prevalences of some IYCF practices were low in Amuria at endline including MAD (19.1%; 95% CI :16.3%, 21.9%).

Conclusions: The intervention had a positive impact on several IYCF practices; however, endline prevalence of some indicators suggests a continued need to improve complementary feeding practices.

Keywords: Uganda; breastfeeding; child nutrition; impact evaluation; infant and young child feeding (IYCF); micronutrient powders (MNPs).

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