International Journal of Healthcare Sciences ISSN 2348-5728 (Online) Vol. 8, Issue 2, pp: (52-63), Month: October 2020 - March 2021, Available at: www.researchpublish.com
PREDICTORS OF MOTHERS’ COMPLIANCE WITH NATIONAL INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD FEEDING RECOMENDATIONS AMONG CHILDREN AGED 0-24 MONTHS IN NAKURU MUNICIPALITY, KENYA Kamau Anne Njeri Kenyatta University, Kenya
Abstract: Optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) is the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended way of feeding children. Much has been done on IYCF, but there still remains a dearth of information in areas related to the application of IYCF recommendations in various regions. Therefore, the study was designed to assess the compliance with IYCF recommendations among mothers with infants aged 0-24 months in Nakuru Municipality, Kenya. This paper presents and discusses the findings from one of the objectives of the study. The paper discusses the mothers’ prior plan, sources of information, popular culture, prior teenage exposure to breastfeeding mother and support for IYCF as predictors of their compliance with IYCF recommendations. The study used interview and questionnaires adapted from the WHO questionnaire on the 24-hour recall food diversity. Nine research assistants were trained prior the exercise to help in collecting data from 377 mothers. From the findings, almost half (49.6%) of mothers’ had prior plan for exclusive breastfeeding for six months. However, only 14.2% carried through their plan. The main sources of IYCF information was the media (radio and television) according to 39.3% of the mothers. A large majority (95.5%) of the mothers had prior teenage breastfeeding exposure of witnessing a mother frequently breastfeed. The popular culture of IYCF was early (0-3 months) introduction of solids, semi-solids and soft foods (39%). The main sources of reassurance (support) on mothers’ IYCF practice was by the community health nurse (46.4%). The mothers’ level of compliance with IYCF recommendation was 55%. The study recommends that policy makers should come up with strategies of building capacity to increase the community health nurses’ efforts of supporting IYCF. The policy makers need to come up with IYCF policies that would reach the mothers in the community with practical IYCF intervention. County Health System to ensure the CHEW monitor and evaluate of IYCF compliance at family level. Keywords: Prior Plan, Information Sources, Popular Culture, Prior Teenage Exposure, Breastfeeding Mother, Support Compliance, Optimal Infant, Young Child Feeding, IYCF Recommendations.
1. INTRODUCTION Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) in the first two years of life is a key determinant of growth and development in children (Lamberti, Fischer, Noiman, Victora & Black, 2011; Lahariya, 2008). Children below 2 years old grow rapidly and are vulnerable to illness (Senarath & Dibley, 2012; World Alliance Breastfeeding Action [WABA], 2010). While under-nutrition usually spikes at the age of 3-18 months making the child‟s first two years of life are considered „a critical window of opportunity‟ for the prevention of growth faultering and under-nutrition (Victora, de Onis, Hallal, Blossne &
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