Exploring the Relationship between Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices and Level of Dairy Production among Smallholder Dairy Farmers in Rift Valley Province, Kenya 公开

Wyatt, Amanda Jane (2011)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/5q47rp173?locale=zh
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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

1 Introduction 1 2 Literature Review 4 2.1

Introduction to the Literature Review

4 2.2

Overview of Dairy for Nutrition

4 2.3

Cow's Milk as an Appropriate Complementary Food

5 2.4

Links between Animal-Source Foods and Child Health

5 2.5

Studies 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 47

Appendix: Focus Group Discussion Guides and Household Questionnaire

51

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