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Engaging fathers to improve complementary feeding is acceptable and feasible in the Lake Zone, Tanzania.

ABSTRACT: In Tanzania, suboptimal complementary feeding practices contribute to high stunting rates. Fathers influence complementary feeding practices, and effective strategies are needed to engage them. The objectives of this research were to examine the acceptability and feasibility of (1) tailored complementary feeding recommendations and (2) engaging fathers in complementary feeding. We conducted trials of improved practices with 50 mothers and 40 fathers with children 6-18 months. At visit 1, mothers reported current feeding practices and fathers participated in focus group discussions. At visit 2, mothers and fathers received individual, tailored counselling and chose new practices to try. After 2 weeks, at visit 3, parents were interviewed individually about their experiences. Interview transcripts were analysed thematically. The most frequent feeding issues at visit 1 were the need to thicken porridge, increase dietary diversity, replace sugary snacks and drinks and feed responsively. After counselling, most mothers agreed to try practices to improve diets and fathers agreed to provide informational and instrumental support for complementary feeding, but few agreed to try feeding the child. At follow-up, mothers reported improved child feeding and confirmed fathers' reports of increased involvement. Most fathers purchased or provided funds for recommended foods; some helped with domestic tasks or fed children. Many participants reported improved spousal communication and cooperation. Families were able to practice recommendations to feed family foods, but high food costs and seasonal unavailability were challenges. It was feasible and acceptable to engage fathers in complementary feeding, but additional strategies are needed to address economic and environmental barriers.

SUBMITTER: Martin SL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8269136 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundEvidence about the effects of mothers' decision-making autonomy on complementary feeding is not consistent, generating hypotheses about whether complementary feeding social support moderates the relation between mothers' decision-making autonomy and the practice of complementary feeding.ObjectivesThis study examined the moderation effect of fathers' complementary feeding support on the association of mothers' decision-making autonomy with the WHO complementary feeding indicators of minimum dietary diversity, minimum meal frequency, and minimum acceptable diet, and post hoc secondary outcomes of feeding eggs or fish the previous day. The study also examined the concordance between mothers' and fathers' perspectives of mothers' autonomy and fathers' complementary feeding support.MethodsData were from cross-sectional surveys of 495 cohabiting parents of children aged 6-23 mo enrolled in an Alive & Thrive initiative implementation research study in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Logistic regression models were used to examine moderation, and κ statistics and 95% CIs were used to assess the concordance in reported perspectives of the parents.ResultsThe moderation results show that the simple slopes for decision-making were significant for minimum meal frequency, minimum acceptable diet, and feeding children fish the previous day when fathers offered ≥2 complementary feeding support actions. There were no significant findings in the moderation models for minimum dietary diversity or feeding children eggs the previous day. The findings from the concordance tests show moderate to substantial agreement (ranging from 57.6% to 76.0%) between parents' perspectives of mothers' autonomy, and moderate to excellent agreement (ranging from 52.1% to 89.1%) between parents' perspectives of fathers' complementary feeding support.ConclusionsIn Nigeria, high levels of fathers' complementary feeding support strengthen the association of mothers' decision-making autonomy with minimum meal frequency, minimum acceptable diet, and feeding children fish the previous day.This study was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04835662).

Project description:BackgroundFollowing the successful implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) strategy in Tanzania, improvements in child health indicators were observed. However, it remains unclear whether complementary feeding practices have improved given the renewed global agenda on child nutrition. This study investigated trends and socioeconomic and health service factors of complementary feeding practices in Tanzania for the period spanning from 2004 to2016.MethodsThe study was based on the Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey data for the years 2004-2005 (n?=?2480), 2010 (n?=?2275) and 2015-2016 (n?=?2949) to estimate the trends in complementary feeding practices. Multivariate logistic regression models that adjusted for year of the survey, clustering and sampling weights were used to investigate the association between the modifiable study factors (socioeconomic and health service factors) and complementary feeding practices among children aged 6-23 months in Tanzania.ResultsOver the study period, minimum dietary diversity (MDD) and minimum acceptable diet (MAD) have worsened from 46% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 41.5-50.7%) in 2004-2005 to 30% (95% CI 25.7-32.9%) in 2015-2016 and 16.9% (95% CI 14.9-18.9%) in 2004-2005 to 6.0% (95% CI 4.9-7.1%) in 2015-2016, respectively. Minimum meal frequency (MMF) remained unchanged, 37% in 2004-2005 and 2015-2016. The introduction of solid, semi-solid and soft foods improved from 79% (95% CI 74.5-83.9%) in 2004-2005 to 87% (95% CI 83.7-90.9%) in 2015-2016. Multivariate analyses revealed that higher maternal education and household wealth, mother's employment, health facility birthing and postnatal care (PNC) visit were associated with MDD, MAD and MMF. Traditional birth attendant-assisted births and PNC visits were associated with the introduction of complementary foods. In contrast, birthing in the health facility was associated with the delayed introduction of complementary foods.ConclusionBetween 2004 and 2016, the prevalence and determinants of complementary feeding practices varied in Tanzania. Improving complementary feeding practices is feasible in Tanzania given the renewed focus on child nutrition in the country. Child nutrition policy interventions should target all mothers, particularly mothers from low socioeconomic background and those with limited access to health services to maximise results.

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Engaging fathers to improve complementary feeding is acceptable and feasible in the Lake Zone, Tanzania.

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