Attachments
Executive Summary
Background: The overall purpose of this formative research is to obtain information for planning interventions to improve feeding and care practices of infants and small children less than two years of age. Improving feeding and care practices can contribute to the reduction of early childhood malnutrition.
Method: Four “representative” agro-ecological regions of Yemen have been selected as sites for the study: Western Coastal, Southern Coastal, Central Highlands and Northern highlands. The Western Coastal region covers the governorates of Al Hudaydah; the Southern Coastal includes the governorates of Lahj; the Central Highlands encompass Ibb and the Northern Highlands have the governorates of Raymah. These regions were selected by UNICEF nutrition officers in consultation with the MOPHP nutrition staff. Caregiver survey and 24-hour dietary recall, market survey, semi structured interview and opportunistic observation was done. Data was entered and analyzed using ProPAN software. Recipe creation exercise for each governorates and test of recommendations were not able to done due to current instability in Yemen.
Result: Percentage of children 0–23.9 month’s breastfed for first time within 1 hour of birth ranges from 32.7 to 63.1. Percentage of children 0–23.9 months not fed anything other than breast milk during first 3 days of life range from 11 to 50. Percentage of children 0–23.9 months old fed colostrum and on demand breastfeeding is above 90%. Percentage of children 0–5.9 months who are exclusively breastfed is range 12.3 and 43.2. Percentage of children 9.0–23.9 months who began complementary feeding with solid foods or semi-solid foods at 6.0 months is range 45.6 to 74.6. Percentage of children 6.0–23.9 months who in previous 24 hours consumed the following minimum number of meals: breastfed children, 6.0–8.9 months: 2; breastfed children, 9.0–23.9 months: 3; non-breastfed children, 6.0–23.9 months is range 27.5 to 68.2.
Conclusion and recommendation: Most of the ideal practices are low in all districts expect colostrum feeding and on demand breastfeeding. Therefore, based on the recommendation given BCC materials should be prepared to improve knowledge, attitude and practices of IYCF.
Governorates based recipe should be prepare for future to improve nutrient and calorie intake of the children.