Suboptimal infant and young child feeding practices among internally displaced persons during conflict in eastern Ukraine

Abstract

ObjectiveTo determine current status, areas for improvement and effect of conflict on infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices among internally displaced persons (IDP) in eastern Ukraine.DesignCross-sectional household survey, June 2015.SettingKharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhia oblasts (Ukrainian administrative divisions) bordering conflict area in Ukraine.SubjectsRandomly selected IDP households with children aged <2 years registered with local non-governmental organizations. Questions based on the WHO IYCF assessment questionnaire were asked for 477 children. Mid-upper arm circumference was measured in 411 children aged 6–23 months.ResultsExclusive breast-feeding prevalence for infants aged <6 months was 25·8 (95 % CI 15·8, 38·0) %. Percentage of mothers continuing breast-feeding when their child was aged 1 and 2 years was 53·5 (95 % CI 43·2, 63·6) % and 20·6 (95 % CI 11·5, 32·7) %, respectively. Bottle-feeding was common for children aged <2 years (68·1 %; 95 % CI 63·7, 72·3 %). Almost all infants aged 6–8 months received solid foods (98·6 %; 95 % CI 88·5, 99·9 %). Mothers who discontinued breast-feeding before their infant was 6 months old more often listed stress related to conflict as their primary reason for discontinuation (45·7 %) compared with mothers who discontinued breast-feeding when their child was aged 6–23 months (14·3 %; P<0·0001).ConclusionsTo mitigate the effects of conflict and improve child health, humanitarian action is needed focused on helping mothers cope with stress related to conflict and displacement while supporting women to adhere to recommended IYCF practices if possible and providing appropriate support to women when adherence is not feasible.

Violent conflict and breastfeeding: the case of Iraq

“…From our reading of the literature, Zakanj et al [66], Summers and Bilukha [54], and Guerrero-Serdan [32] are the only studies that touch on the relationship between war and breastfeeding. Zakanj et al, using descriptive statistics from survey data collected in Croatia, find that conflict is associated with a reduction in both the prevalence and duration of breastfeeding, and argue that this is most likely due to the distribution of infant food by international organizations.…”

“…Zakanj et al, using descriptive statistics from survey data collected in Croatia, find that conflict is associated with a reduction in both the prevalence and duration of breastfeeding, and argue that this is most likely due to the distribution of infant food by international organizations. Summers and Bilukha [54], using a survey of internally displaced persons in the Ukraine, find that conflict-related stress is the most frequently reported reason for early breastfeeding termination. Guerrero-Serdan [32] briefly explores the effect of the 2003 Iraq war on breastfeeding, only insofar as it acts as a transmission channel to poor nutritional outcomes of children, which is the focus of that paper.…”

Praktik Pemberian Makanan Pendamping Air Susu Ibu Pada Situasi Bencana: Studi Literatur

“…Bayi dan anak usia dini di pengungsian pasca konflik Uganda mayoritas sebagian ada yang mulai MPASI pada usia 3 atau 4 bulan (Nassanga et al, 2018). Hal serupa terjadi di pengungsian Ukraina bahwa hampir seperlima bayi berusia kurang dari 6 bulan menerima makanan berupa bubur bayi instan, puree buah atau sayuran instan, dan buah utuh (Summers & Bilukha, 2018). Selain itu, di pengungsian daerah kumuh Dhaka-Bangladesh disebutkan bahwa pengasuh makanan atau minuman manis sejak anak berusia kurang dari 6 bulan (Kabir & Maitrot, 2017).…”

Nutritional counselling interactions between health workers and caregivers of children under two years: observations at selected child welfare clinics in Ghana

“…Adherence to recommended infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices has been identified as a key area that can help tackle undernutrition and ultimately improve child health [1]. In addition, Summers and Bilukha (2018) [2] reported that introducing complementary foods at 6 months of age is the third leading child health intervention in preventing child deaths. As a result of the evidence of the impact of appropriate feeding on child health, the WHO and UNICEF recommend early initiation of breast-feeding within the first hour of birth, exclusive breast-feeding for the first 6 months of life, continued breast-feeding until 2 years of age, and timely introduction of nutritious complementary foods at 6 months of age [3].…”