Infant and young child feeding practices among children under 2 years of age and maternal exposure to infant and young child feeding messages and promotions in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Matern Child Nutr. 2016 Apr;12 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):77-90. doi: 10.1111/mcn.12292.

Abstract

There are limited data describing infant and young child feeding practices (IYCF) in urban Tanzania. This study assessed the types of foods consumed by children under 2 years of age and maternal exposure to promotions of these foods in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 305 mothers of children less than 24 months of age who attended child health services in October and November, 2014. Among infants less than 6 months of age, rates of exclusive breastfeeding were low (40.8%) and a high proportion (38.2%) received semi-solid foods. Continued breastfeeding among 20-23-month-olds was only 33.3%. Consumption of breastmilk substitutes was not prevalent, and only 3.9% of infants less than 6 months of age and 4.8% of 6-23 month-olds were fed formula. Among 6-23-month-olds, only 38.4% consumed a minimum acceptable diet (using a modified definition). The homemade complementary foods consumed by the majority of 6-23-month-olds (85.2%) were cereal-dominated and infrequently contained micronutrient-rich ingredients. Only 3.1% of 6-23-month-olds consumed commercially produced infant cereal on the day preceding the interview. In contrast, commercially produced snack foods were consumed by 23.1% of 6-23-month-olds. Maternal exposure to commercial promotions of breastmilk substitutes and commercially produced complementary foods was low (10.5% and 1.0%, respectively), while exposure to promotions of commercially produced snack foods was high (45.9%). Strategies are needed to improve IYCF practices, particularly with regard to exclusive and continued breastfeeding, increased dietary diversity and consumption of micronutrient-rich foods, and avoidance of feeding commercially produced snack foods.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Feeding* / ethnology
  • Child Development*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Developing Countries
  • Diet / adverse effects*
  • Diet / economics
  • Diet / ethnology
  • Fast Foods / adverse effects
  • Fast Foods / economics
  • Female
  • Food Labeling
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant Food* / economics
  • Infant Formula* / economics
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Mothers
  • Nutrition Policy*
  • Nutrition Surveys
  • Patient Compliance* / ethnology
  • Snacks / ethnology
  • Tanzania