Trends in infant and young child feeding practices in Bangladesh, 1993–2011

International Breastfeeding Journal

Hafsa Muhammad Hanif¹ 

[1] Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Baba-e-Urdu Road, 74400 Karachi, Pakistan

关键词: Infant and young child feeding;    Complementary feeding;    Breastfeeding;    Bangladesh;   

Others  :  801027
DOI  :  10.1186/1746-4358-8-10

 received in 2013-02-16, accepted in 2013-09-21,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

Optimal infant and young child feeding practices are crucial to improving the health and nutritional status of children. Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation, UNICEF and several other organizations are working in the country for the promotion of healthy feeding practices. This article presents trends in breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices in Bangladesh from 1993–2011, based on data in Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys. The following Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys were studied: BDHS 93–94, BDHS 96–97, BDHS 99–00, BDHS 04, BDHS 07 and BDHS 11. Values of indicators for infant and young child feeding proposed by WHO, along with their 95% confidence intervals, were calculated, and trends were assessed.

Findings

Among the core indicators, early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding under six months, introduction of solid, semi-solid and soft foods, and consumption of iron-rich foods have improved, while continued breastfeeding at one year does not display a statistically significant development. Of the optional indicators, the prevalence of age-appropriate breastfeeding and children ever breastfed improved, while the prevalence of predominant breastfeeding under six months witnessed a decline. Median duration of breastfeeding declined, and there was no change in the other optional indicators (continued breastfeeding at two years and bottle feeding). Developments in the other optional indicators were not statistically significant. The ratings of early initiation of breastfeeding and complementary feeding have gone up from poor to fair, those of exclusive breastfeeding under six months from fair to good, while those of bottle-feeding are fair.

Conclusion

The developments in breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices in the country have been considerable, but there is still substantial scope for improvement.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Muhammad Hanif; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Figure 3.

Figure 4.

【 参考文献 】

• [1]World Health Organization: Infant and young child feeding: model chapter for textbooks for medical students and allied health professionals. France: World Health Organization; 2009.
• [2]Talukder MQ: Protection, promotion and support of breast-feeding in Bangladesh. Regional Health Forum 1996, 1(1):18-24.
• [3]Bangladesh breastfeeding foundation: protection, promotion and support breastfeeding. [http://www.bbf-bd.org/home webcite]
• [4]Mitra SN, Ali MN, Islam S, Cross AR, Saha T: Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 1993-1994. Calverton, USA: National Institute of Population Research and Training, Mitra and Associates, and Macro International Inc.; 1994.
• [5]Mitra SN, Al-Sabir A, Cross AR, Jamil K: Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 1996-1997. Dhaka, Bangladesh and Calverton, USA: National Institute of Population Research and Training, Mitra and Associates, and Macro International Inc.; 1997.
• [6]Mitra SN, Al-Sabir A, Saha T, Kumar S: Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 1999-2000. Dhaka, Bangladesh and Calverton, USA: National Institute of Population Research and Training, Mitra and Associates, and ORC Macro; 2001.
• [7]National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT), Mitra and Associates, and ORC Macro: Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2004. Dhaka, Bangladesh and Calverton, USA: NIPORT, Mitra and Associates, and ORC Macro; 2005.
• [8]National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT), Mitra and Associates, and Macro International: Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2007. Dhaka, Bangladesh and Calverton, USA: NIPORT, Mitra and Associates, and Macro International; 2009.
• [9]National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT), Mitra and Associates, and ICF International: Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2011. Dhaka, Bangladesh and Calverton, USA: NIPORT, Mitra and Associates, and ICF International; 2013.
• [10]World Health Organization: Indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding practices (Part I). France: World Health Organization; 2008.
• [11]World Health Organization: Nutrition: complementary feeding. [http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/complementary_feeding/en/ webcite]
• [12]World Health Organization: Nutrition: complementary feeding. [http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/infantfeeding_recommendation/en/ webcite]
• [13]Brownlee A: Infant and Young Child Feeding: A Tool for Assessing National Practices, Policies and Programmes. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2003.
• [14]World breastfeeding trends initiative: country information: Bangladesh. [http://www.worldbreastfeedingtrends.org/countrysubmit.php?country=Bangladesh webcite]