Effectiveness of Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI) on complementary feeding in Koibatek, Kenya: a randomized control study

Abstract Background Appropriate infant and young child nutrition is critical for proper growth and development. In order to promote optimal nutrition at an early age, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have developed the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) to address poor breastfeed...

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Main Authors: Mildred Maingi, Judith Kimiywe, Sharon Iron-Segev
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2018-05-01
Series:BMC Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-5519-1
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author Mildred Maingi
Judith Kimiywe
Sharon Iron-Segev
author_facet Mildred Maingi
Judith Kimiywe
Sharon Iron-Segev
author_sort Mildred Maingi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Appropriate infant and young child nutrition is critical for proper growth and development. In order to promote optimal nutrition at an early age, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have developed the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) to address poor breastfeeding practices in maternity wards. However, impact is limited in less developed countries like Kenya, where more than half of all births are home deliveries. Therefore, Kenya has explored the adoption of Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI) in its rural settings. In contrast to the BFHI, the BFCI supports breastfeeding and optimal infant feeding in community. BFCI has been implemented in Koibatek, in rural Kenya. This study aimed at assessing the effectiveness of BFCI on complementary feeding practices of children aged 6–23 months, by comparing intervention and control groups. Methods This was a randomized control study design that included 270 mother-infant pairs enrolled in the Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI) project in Koibatek. Evaluation was carried out using structured questionnaires. Results A statistically significantly higher proportion of children in the intervention group compared to the control group attained minimum dietary diversity (77% vs. 58%; p = 0.001), minimum meal frequency (96% vs. 89%; p = 0.046) and minimum acceptable diet (77% vs. 61%; p = 0.005). The odds of attaining minimum dietary diversity, minimum meal frequency and minimum acceptable diet were statistically significantly higher for the intervention group compared to control group (OR: 4.95; 95%CI 2.44–10.03, p = < 0.001; OR: 14.84; 95%CI 2.75–79.9, p = 0.002; OR: 4.61; 95%CI 2.17–9.78, p = < 0.001 respectively). Conclusion The BFCI intervention was successful in improving complementary feeding practices. Strengthening and prioritizing BFCI interventions could have a significant impact on child health outcomes in rural Kenya. Trial registration ISRCTN03467700. Registration 24 September 2014. Retrospectively registered.
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spelling doaj.art-d9d9c1b95dda403f88ed9e4014219bbe2022-12-21T23:01:16ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582018-05-0118111110.1186/s12889-018-5519-1Effectiveness of Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI) on complementary feeding in Koibatek, Kenya: a randomized control studyMildred Maingi0Judith Kimiywe1Sharon Iron-Segev2School of Nutritional Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and The International School of Agricultural SciencesDepartment of Food Nutrition and Dietetics, Kenyatta UniversitySchool of Nutritional Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and The International School of Agricultural SciencesAbstract Background Appropriate infant and young child nutrition is critical for proper growth and development. In order to promote optimal nutrition at an early age, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have developed the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) to address poor breastfeeding practices in maternity wards. However, impact is limited in less developed countries like Kenya, where more than half of all births are home deliveries. Therefore, Kenya has explored the adoption of Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI) in its rural settings. In contrast to the BFHI, the BFCI supports breastfeeding and optimal infant feeding in community. BFCI has been implemented in Koibatek, in rural Kenya. This study aimed at assessing the effectiveness of BFCI on complementary feeding practices of children aged 6–23 months, by comparing intervention and control groups. Methods This was a randomized control study design that included 270 mother-infant pairs enrolled in the Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI) project in Koibatek. Evaluation was carried out using structured questionnaires. Results A statistically significantly higher proportion of children in the intervention group compared to the control group attained minimum dietary diversity (77% vs. 58%; p = 0.001), minimum meal frequency (96% vs. 89%; p = 0.046) and minimum acceptable diet (77% vs. 61%; p = 0.005). The odds of attaining minimum dietary diversity, minimum meal frequency and minimum acceptable diet were statistically significantly higher for the intervention group compared to control group (OR: 4.95; 95%CI 2.44–10.03, p = < 0.001; OR: 14.84; 95%CI 2.75–79.9, p = 0.002; OR: 4.61; 95%CI 2.17–9.78, p = < 0.001 respectively). Conclusion The BFCI intervention was successful in improving complementary feeding practices. Strengthening and prioritizing BFCI interventions could have a significant impact on child health outcomes in rural Kenya. Trial registration ISRCTN03467700. Registration 24 September 2014. Retrospectively registered.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-5519-1Baby Friendly Community InitiativeComplementary feeding
spellingShingle Mildred Maingi
Judith Kimiywe
Sharon Iron-Segev
Effectiveness of Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI) on complementary feeding in Koibatek, Kenya: a randomized control study
BMC Public Health
Baby Friendly Community Initiative
Complementary feeding
title Effectiveness of Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI) on complementary feeding in Koibatek, Kenya: a randomized control study
title_full Effectiveness of Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI) on complementary feeding in Koibatek, Kenya: a randomized control study
title_fullStr Effectiveness of Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI) on complementary feeding in Koibatek, Kenya: a randomized control study
title_full_unstemmed Effectiveness of Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI) on complementary feeding in Koibatek, Kenya: a randomized control study
title_short Effectiveness of Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI) on complementary feeding in Koibatek, Kenya: a randomized control study
title_sort effectiveness of baby friendly community initiative bfci on complementary feeding in koibatek kenya a randomized control study
topic Baby Friendly Community Initiative
Complementary feeding
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-5519-1
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AT sharonironsegev effectivenessofbabyfriendlycommunityinitiativebfcioncomplementaryfeedinginkoibatekkenyaarandomizedcontrolstudy