Sub-optimal feeding practices among under-5 children are the major drivers of malnutrition. This study aims to assess the prevalence of malnutrition and the factors affecting exclusive breastfeeding, bottle feeding, and complementary feeding practices among under 5 children amid the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the economic and the political crises in Lebanon. A nationally representative stratified random sample of mother–child dyads (n = 511) was collected from households using a stratified cluster sampling design. The survey inquired about infant’s feeding and complementary feeding practices using a valid questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements of the mother and child were collected. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to explore the determinants associated with under-5 children’s practices. The prevalence of underweight, stunting, wasting, overweight and obese children was 0.5%, 8.4%, 6.7%, 16.8% and 8.9%, respectively. In total, among under-5 children, the prevalence of ever breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, and bottle feeding at birth was 95.1%, 59.1% and 25.8%, respectively. Half the children in this study started solid foods between 4 and 6 months. Regression analysis showed that supporting breastfeeding at hospital (aOR = 8.20, 95% CI (3.03–22.17)) and husband’s support (aOR = 3.07, 95% CI (1.9–4.92)) were associated with increased breastfeeding odds. However, mother’s occupation (aOR = 0.18, 95% CI (0.55–0.58)) was inversely associated with breastfeeding practices. Male children (aOR = 2.119, 95% CI (1.37–3.27), mothers diagnosed with COVID-19 (aOR = 0.58, 95% CI (0.35–0.95)), and bottle feeding at hospital (aOR = 0.5, 95% CI (0.32–0.77)) were more likely to induce early initiation of solid foods at 4 months of age. This study demonstrated non-negligible rates of malnutrition, low prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding, and high rates of early introduction of formula feeding and solid foods among Lebanese under-5-children amid escalating crises.

Background: The unfurling COVID-19 pandemic has uncovered the defenselessness of the Lebanese food system leading to serious implication in maintaining a healthy sustainable lifestyle. Aim: The main purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food consumption patterns and dietary diversity of the Lebanese people. Methods: The online survey, completed between April and June 2020, consisted of a cross-sectional study on 2282 Lebanese participants (mean age: 29.36±12.221, 80.9% women) that was part of a survey across 38 different countries conducted by De Backer, C. et al. A food frequency questionnaire was used to investigate the consumption patterns along with the calculation of the Food Consumption Score (FCS), a proxy indicator of dietary diversity. Data collected on cooking attitudes, shopping, and food stock identify the community mitigation measures. Results: Home isolation due to COVID-19 induced an increase in the consumption of legumes and pulses (3.2%, p-value=0.001) and whole wheat groups (2.8%, p-value=0.03). In contrast, a decrease of 5.4%, 6.9%, 5.8%, 5.1%, 3.1%, 3.4% and 2.8% was observed in the consumption of fruits (p-value=0), vegetables (p-value=0), processed meats, poultry, and fish (p-value=0), other dairy products (p-value=0), sweet snacks (p-value=0.001), sugared beverages (p-value=0), fats and oils (p-value=0.001), respectively. The FCS decreased by 4.6%. As food-related behaviors, most cooking attitudes, and practices (10 out of 13) showed an amelioration during the lockdown and the proportions of food stocked have been changing since the start of the pandemic seeing higher amounts of pasta, rice or other grains, flour, and legumes/pulses stocked. Conclusion: To conclude, the hostile home isolation strategy followed to prevent the COVID-19 spread in Lebanon, came at a high nutritional cost, driving poor dietary diversity.