Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices and their Determinants among Mothers of Children aged six to 23 months in Chennai, India: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: More than two-thirds of malnutrition-related child deaths are associated with inappropriate feeding practices during the first two years of life. This study has been planned to estimate the indicators of IYCF practices and their associated factors among children aged 6 - 23 months. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 210 children aged between six and 23 months over a period of one year, using a pre-designed semi-structured questionnaire based on WHO IYCF indicators. The association between sociodemographic factors and feeding practices with IYCF indicators were analysed using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: Children having minimum diet diversity (MDD) and minimum meal frequency (MMF) were found to be 49% and 93.3% respectively. 49% of children received a minimum acceptable diet (MAD). Children aged 12 months {AOR 1.98 (1.08 – 3.61)} and those with other milk intake apart from breastfeeding {AOR 2.38 (1.28 - 4.43)} were found to have significantly better MAD. Children more than 12 months were four times more likely to consume egg and meat {AOR 4.55 (2.31 - 8.94)}. Children aged more than 12 months {AOR 2.03 (1.07 - 3.82)}) and those belonging to upper socioeconomic status {AOR 1.91 (1.00 - 3.65)} were twice as prone to consume unhealthy food. Conclusions: Although the MMF rate was higher than the national average, the rate of MAD was lower due to a lower MDD rate. Children aged above one year had a higher rate of MAD as well as egg and meat consumption. Children in higher socio-economic status had a higher risk of consumption of sweetened beverages and an unhealthy diet.