Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Practices, Household Food Security and Nutritional Status of Under-five Children in Moheshkhali Island, Cox’sbazar

Abstract

This study was conducted among people of Moheshkhali Island, which is situated at south-eastern part of Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a hundred and seventy mother-child pairs between 4th October to 28th November,2021. Anthropometrical measurements of under five children and mothers were taken and form ready in native language (Bangla) were accustomed to collect the information. Information of maternal IYCF information and practices were conjointly collected. Data were entered into SPSS (version sixteen) software system for analysis. Emergency Nutrition Assessment (ENA) for good 2007 software system was accustomed convert organic process knowledge into Z-scores. The prevalence of stunting (Height-for-age) among the children was high. The finding of this study revealed that the prevalence of wasting in children was 6.5%, 54.1% were stunted, 31.2% were underweight; among the women, 22.4% were overweight and 70.1% were illiterate. 65.3% of mother knew the appropriate time for initiation of colostrum after birth. This study also revealed that only 24.7% of mothers practiced exclusive breast feeding. Overall maternal IYCF knowledge and practices, nutritional status of under-five children among the studied population were not at a satisfactory level. Despite of significant differentiation among the 31.5% underweight children, 32.7% mother had poor practice and 20% mothers had good practice on IYCF. The result of this study showed a significant difference (p=0.031) between the malnourished children based on their MUAC status according to their maternal BMI. The prevalence rate of malnutrition among kids aged 6-59 months was high, indicating that the nutrition scenario in study space is extremely important issue. Therefore, particular attention ought to tend on intervention of deficiency disease (malnutrition).