Sub‐Optimal Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Practices in Singida, Tanzania are Associated with Food Insecurity

High prevalence of stunting in Singida, Tanzania has been attributed to sub‐optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices. To evaluate the appropriateness of a proposed participatory agroecological and nutrition peer education intervention for improving IYCF and child growth, we described and assessed covariates of suboptimal IYCF practices. A cross‐sectional survey was conducted with mothers and fathers in households with children <2 years (n=322). Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze covariates of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for children <6 months and meeting the minimum acceptable diet (MAD) for children 蠅 6 months. Of children <6 months (n=59), 40.7% received EBF, and 19.2% of 蠅 6 months (n=255) received MAD [table 1]. Small sample size prohibited multivariate regression analysis of EBF [table 2], but the most common explanations of early cessation of EBF [insufficient breastmilk (58.5%) and infant age (36.6%)] could be improved with education interventions. Meeting MAD was associated with household food security, asset score, and a dry season garden [table 2]. Legume consumption would improve dietary diversity in 67% of children 蠅 6 months, helping 16% to meet MAD. IYCF practices in Singida district need improvement. Potential strategies include increasing legume consumption, promoting a dry season garden, increasing food security, and increasing care providers' nutrition knowledge. Table 1. Prevalence of WHO IYCF indicators among 314 children in Singida, Tanzania, by age Indicators 1 n Proportion of infants &lt;6 exclusively breastfed 40.7% 59 Dietary diversity score of infants 6‐23 months, mean (SD) 3.1 (1.9) 255 Proportion of infants 6‐23 months with acceptable dietary diversity 2 37.3% 255 Meal frequency of infants 6‐23 months, mean (SD) 2.6 (1.0) 255 Proportion of infants 6‐23 months who had acceptable meal frequency 3 42.0% 255 Proportion of infants 6‐23 months receiving minimal acceptable diet 4 19.2% 255 Proportion of all infants receiving appropriate IYCF 5 22.7% 314 Exclusive Breastfed Met Minimum Acceptable Diet Unadjusted OR 1 (p) Unadjusted OR 1 (p) Adjusted OR 2 (p) n 50‐59 250‐261 261 Living in a village with good healthcare access 0.40(0.10) 2.54(0.05) Household’s asset (score) 3 0.87(0.36) 1.28(0.00) 1.19(0.01) Household’s food security (quartile) 4 1.01(0.87) 0.82(0.00) 0.47(0.00) Household’s farm size (acres) 0.97(0.59) 1.03(0.59) Household has a dry season garden 0.40(0.30) 2.88(0.01) 2.58(0.03) Household’s under‐5 to adult ratio 1.36(0.64) 1.71(0.18) Husband helps with household chores (score) 5 1.75(0.46) 1.42(0.53) Mothers participation in household decisions (score) 6 0.93(0.79) 1.10(0.54) Mother finished primary school 1.34(0.65) 1.24(0.65) Child’s age (months) 0.82(0.29) 0.97(0.18) Child is female 1.40(0.52) 0.93(0.78) Funding support: Collaborative Crop Research Program, McKnight Foundation. SLY was supported by the NIH (K01 MH098902)