Exploring the Relationship between Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices and Level of Dairy Production among Smallholder Dairy Farmers in Rift Valley Province, Kenya Público
Wyatt, Amanda Jane (2011)
Abstract
Exploring the Relationship between Infant and Young Child
Feeding Practices and Level of Dairy
Production among Smal holder Dairy Farmers in Rift Val ey Province,
Kenya
By Amanda Wyatt
Background: Livestock interventions have potential to reduce
poverty by increasing productivity of
existing assets and by providing animal-source foods that can
improve nutrition. Yet, few studies
have looked rigorously at how interventions can affect young
children. Without understanding how
increasing dairy productivity affects women's infant and young
child feeding practices, interventions
could be detrimental to child nutrition.
Objective: The study explores, within the context of rural
dairy farming in Kenya, the relationship
between level of household dairy production and selected infant and
young child feeding practices
using a mixed methods approach.
Methods: Focus group discussions (FGDs) (n=6) investigated the
attitudes and perceptions of
women involved in dairy farming toward breastfeeding, introduction
of complementary foods, and
child diets. Three different levels of dairy producing households
who had at least one child under five
years old participated in a household survey (n=92).
Results: Themes from the FGDs indicated that women introduce
foods other than breast milk
before the child reaches six months because certain foods are
perceived to be better for the child
than breast milk alone. Quantitative results indicated that higher
levels of dairy production could
have a harmful effect on exclusive breastfeeding practices (EBF).
No association was found between
level of dairy production and child dietary diversity, which was
surprising considering dairy
interventions are often promoted as a dietary diversification
strategy.
Discussion: Community perceptions that cow's milk is nutritious
for children appears to conflict
with EBF practices. Women believe that cow's milk is important to
give to children, regardless of the
child's age. It appears that when more milk is available for
household consumption, women from
higher dairy producing households are more likely to introduce
cow's milk to infants before they
reach six months than women from households that are not producing
any dairy. This study suggests
that in order to maximize benefit and minimize harm, dairy
interventions should tailor nutrition
education to address age-appropriate introduction of cow's milk and
optimal EBF practices.
Evidence from this project can be used to inform the design of
nutrition education targeted to
farmers participating in dairy interventions in rural, low-income
settings.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Introduction to the Literature Review
4 2.2Overview of Dairy for Nutrition
4 2.3Cow's Milk as an Appropriate Complementary Food
5 2.4Links between Animal-Source Foods and Child Health
5 2.5Studies Examining the Effect of Dairy Cow Production and/or Ownership on Indicators of Child Nutrition
7 2.6 Conclusion 10 3 Methodology 11 3.1 Objectives 11 3.2 Data Collection 11 3.3 Ethics 16 3.4 Analytical Methodology 17 4 Results 23 5 Discussion 37 5.1 Main Findings 37 5.2 Strengths and Weaknesses 42 5.3 Implications for Public Health 44 References 47Appendix: Focus Group Discussion Guides and Household Questionnaire
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