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International Journal of Home Science
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International Journal of Home Science

2017, VOL. 3 ISSUE 3, PART A

Level of knowledge on national infant and young child feeding recommendations among mothers with infants of 0-24 months in Nakuru municipality, Kenya

Author(s): Kamau Anne Njeri
Abstract:
Optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) is the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended way of feeding children. There is a lot that has been done on IYCF but there still remains a dearth of information in areas related to the application of IYCF recommendations in various regions. The study was designed to assess levels compliance with IYCF recommendations amongst mothers with infants aged 0-24 months in Nakuru Municipality targeting five health facilities. Based on the study, this paper examines the mothers’ level of knowledge on IYCF recommendations. Data was collected using an interview questionnaire adopted from the WHO questionnaire on the 24-hour recall food diversity. Nine research assistants were trained and used to collect data from 377 mothers with children aged 0-24 months. It was established that the mothers’ knowledge on IYCF recommendation was good (66%). The study underscored the areas that require strengthening as the insufficient breast milk management and the frequency of complementary meals during the transition period from breast milk to solids, semi-solid and soft food. It was thus suggested that the dissemination of information by health workers should emphasize on IYCF aspect of complementary feeding and continued breastfeeding up to two years and beyond when giving IYCF information to mothers.
Pages: 13-20  |  681 Views  358 Downloads


International Journal of Home Science
How to cite this article:
Kamau Anne Njeri. Level of knowledge on national infant and young child feeding recommendations among mothers with infants of 0-24 months in Nakuru municipality, Kenya. Int J Home Sci 2017;3(3):13-20.

International Journal of Home Science
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