Promoting weaning practices and growth of Egyptian infants by using communication for behavioral development approach
Abstract Background Access to various affordable and nutritious foods is considered a challenging factor for households with limited resources affecting the proper weaning practices. In order to motivate communities to adhere to the right and proper weaning practices, the social aspect should be con...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2022-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Pediatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-022-03741-0 |
| _version_ | 1811310845299261440 |
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| author | Ammal M. Metwally Sara F. Sallam Mohamed A. Abdel Mawla Khadija M. Alian Ghada A. Abdel-Latif Hasanin M. Hasanin Ayat N. Kamal Carine Hanna Salwa M. El Shebini Nihad H. Ahmed Hoda B. Mabrok Maha H. Mahmoud Ahmed S. Ismail Samia A. W. Boseila Inas R. El-Alameey Nermine N. Mahfouz Fatma A. Shaaban Nihad A. Ibrahim Nayera E. Hassan Sahar A. El-Masry Maie M. Naga Aya Khalil |
| author_facet | Ammal M. Metwally Sara F. Sallam Mohamed A. Abdel Mawla Khadija M. Alian Ghada A. Abdel-Latif Hasanin M. Hasanin Ayat N. Kamal Carine Hanna Salwa M. El Shebini Nihad H. Ahmed Hoda B. Mabrok Maha H. Mahmoud Ahmed S. Ismail Samia A. W. Boseila Inas R. El-Alameey Nermine N. Mahfouz Fatma A. Shaaban Nihad A. Ibrahim Nayera E. Hassan Sahar A. El-Masry Maie M. Naga Aya Khalil |
| author_sort | Ammal M. Metwally |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Access to various affordable and nutritious foods is considered a challenging factor for households with limited resources affecting the proper weaning practices. In order to motivate communities to adhere to the right and proper weaning practices, the social aspect should be considered through close communication with the targeted communities. This study aimed to evaluate how impactful the use of the principles of Communication for Development (C4D) that respect parents’ beliefs and their cultural norms is in improving the weaning practices and growth of infants in an Egyptian village. Methods An interventional three-phase study was conducted for three years. The intervention targeted 464 mothers of infants up to 2 years of age. C4D interventions encouraged each mother to provide her baby with nutritious and varied options through age-appropriate introduction and diversification of nutrient-rich complementary foods under the slogan “ enjoy meals like a baby”. The effectiveness of the approach was measured by five essential weaning practices: Introduction of solid, semi-solid, or soft foods, Minimum dietary diversity, minimum meal frequency, Minimum acceptable diet, and consumption of iron-rich foods. Results There was marked and significant improvement in the awareness and of the majority of the weaning practices’ indicators as a result of the interventions. This was noticed for the timely introduction of complementary foods which increased from 36.7% to 82.0%, the minimum meal frequency indicator (3–5) which increased from 25.3% to 67.3%, iron-rich or fortified food (68.0% to 82%) as well as a regular checkup for baby health at the health unit (71.3%). Indicators that were improved but failed to achieve the target were the “Minimum Dietary Diversity” (reached 32%) and the minimum acceptable diet (reached 22.0%). A significant effect on linear growth especially for females is evidenced by the remarkable decrease in wasting (from 31.5% to 11.1%) and obesity (from 12.0% to 0%) associated with a considerable decrease in underweight (from 40% to 16.7%). Conclusion Targeting caregivers through the C4D approach have succeeded in providing them with the support required for the provision of adequate nutrition for their infants that had significantly marked improvement in growth indices of their infants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T10:06:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-542ee63781044d2cb712b7daf3dce3f0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2431 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T10:06:14Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-542ee63781044d2cb712b7daf3dce3f02022-12-22T02:51:04ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312022-12-0122111510.1186/s12887-022-03741-0Promoting weaning practices and growth of Egyptian infants by using communication for behavioral development approachAmmal M. Metwally0Sara F. Sallam1Mohamed A. Abdel Mawla2Khadija M. Alian3Ghada A. Abdel-Latif4Hasanin M. Hasanin5Ayat N. Kamal6Carine Hanna7Salwa M. El Shebini8Nihad H. Ahmed9Hoda B. Mabrok10Maha H. Mahmoud11Ahmed S. Ismail12Samia A. W. Boseila13Inas R. El-Alameey14Nermine N. Mahfouz15Fatma A. Shaaban16Nihad A. Ibrahim17Nayera E. Hassan18Sahar A. El-Masry19Maie M. Naga20Aya Khalil21Community Medicine Research Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research CentreChild Health Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research CentrePediatrics Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research CentreBiological Anthropology Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research CentreCommunity Medicine Research Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research CentrePediatrics Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research CentreBiological Anthropology Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research CentreCommunity Medicine Research Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research CentreNutrition and Food Science Department, Food Technology and Nutrition Research Institute, National Research CentreNutrition and Food Science Department, Food Technology and Nutrition Research Institute, National Research CentreNutrition and Food Science Department, Food Technology and Nutrition Research Institute, National Research CentreNutrition and Food Science Department, Food Technology and Nutrition Research Institute, National Research CentreBiological Anthropology Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research CentreChild Health Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research CentreChild Health Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research CentreChild Health Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research CentreChild Health Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research CentreCommunity Medicine Research Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research CentreBiological Anthropology Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research CentreBiological Anthropology Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research CentreCommunity Medicine Research Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research CentreBiological Anthropology Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research CentreAbstract Background Access to various affordable and nutritious foods is considered a challenging factor for households with limited resources affecting the proper weaning practices. In order to motivate communities to adhere to the right and proper weaning practices, the social aspect should be considered through close communication with the targeted communities. This study aimed to evaluate how impactful the use of the principles of Communication for Development (C4D) that respect parents’ beliefs and their cultural norms is in improving the weaning practices and growth of infants in an Egyptian village. Methods An interventional three-phase study was conducted for three years. The intervention targeted 464 mothers of infants up to 2 years of age. C4D interventions encouraged each mother to provide her baby with nutritious and varied options through age-appropriate introduction and diversification of nutrient-rich complementary foods under the slogan “ enjoy meals like a baby”. The effectiveness of the approach was measured by five essential weaning practices: Introduction of solid, semi-solid, or soft foods, Minimum dietary diversity, minimum meal frequency, Minimum acceptable diet, and consumption of iron-rich foods. Results There was marked and significant improvement in the awareness and of the majority of the weaning practices’ indicators as a result of the interventions. This was noticed for the timely introduction of complementary foods which increased from 36.7% to 82.0%, the minimum meal frequency indicator (3–5) which increased from 25.3% to 67.3%, iron-rich or fortified food (68.0% to 82%) as well as a regular checkup for baby health at the health unit (71.3%). Indicators that were improved but failed to achieve the target were the “Minimum Dietary Diversity” (reached 32%) and the minimum acceptable diet (reached 22.0%). A significant effect on linear growth especially for females is evidenced by the remarkable decrease in wasting (from 31.5% to 11.1%) and obesity (from 12.0% to 0%) associated with a considerable decrease in underweight (from 40% to 16.7%). Conclusion Targeting caregivers through the C4D approach have succeeded in providing them with the support required for the provision of adequate nutrition for their infants that had significantly marked improvement in growth indices of their infants.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-022-03741-0Communication for behavioral development (C4D)Indicators of complementary feeding practicesDietary diversity |
| spellingShingle | Ammal M. Metwally Sara F. Sallam Mohamed A. Abdel Mawla Khadija M. Alian Ghada A. Abdel-Latif Hasanin M. Hasanin Ayat N. Kamal Carine Hanna Salwa M. El Shebini Nihad H. Ahmed Hoda B. Mabrok Maha H. Mahmoud Ahmed S. Ismail Samia A. W. Boseila Inas R. El-Alameey Nermine N. Mahfouz Fatma A. Shaaban Nihad A. Ibrahim Nayera E. Hassan Sahar A. El-Masry Maie M. Naga Aya Khalil Promoting weaning practices and growth of Egyptian infants by using communication for behavioral development approach BMC Pediatrics Communication for behavioral development (C4D) Indicators of complementary feeding practices Dietary diversity |
| title | Promoting weaning practices and growth of Egyptian infants by using communication for behavioral development approach |
| title_full | Promoting weaning practices and growth of Egyptian infants by using communication for behavioral development approach |
| title_fullStr | Promoting weaning practices and growth of Egyptian infants by using communication for behavioral development approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Promoting weaning practices and growth of Egyptian infants by using communication for behavioral development approach |
| title_short | Promoting weaning practices and growth of Egyptian infants by using communication for behavioral development approach |
| title_sort | promoting weaning practices and growth of egyptian infants by using communication for behavioral development approach |
| topic | Communication for behavioral development (C4D) Indicators of complementary feeding practices Dietary diversity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-022-03741-0 |
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