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Trends in infant and young child feeding practices in Bangladesh, 1993-2011

Hafsa Muhammad Hanif1

  • 1Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Baba-e-Urdu Road, 74400 Karachi, Pakistan. hafsa_hmh@hotmail.com.

International Breastfeeding Journal
|October 1, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Infant feeding practices in Bangladesh show improvements in early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding, though continued breastfeeding rates need enhancement. Further progress is essential for optimal child health and nutrition.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Nutrition Science
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Optimal infant and young child feeding is vital for child health and nutrition.
  • Organizations like UNICEF promote healthy feeding practices in Bangladesh.
  • This study analyzes trends in infant and young child feeding in Bangladesh from 1993-2011.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present trends in breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices in Bangladesh.
  • To assess changes in infant and young child feeding indicators from 1993-2011.
  • To evaluate progress based on World Health Organization (WHO) proposed indicators.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from multiple Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys (BDHS) spanning 1993-2011.
  • Calculated WHO-recommended infant and young child feeding indicators.
  • Assessed trends and statistical significance of changes in feeding practices.

Main Results:

  • Significant improvements observed in early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding under six months, introduction of solid/semi-solid foods, and iron-rich food consumption.
  • Continued breastfeeding at one year and median duration of breastfeeding showed no statistically significant improvement or declined.
  • Ratings for early initiation and complementary feeding improved from poor to fair; exclusive breastfeeding improved from fair to good.

Conclusions:

  • Breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices in Bangladesh have seen considerable positive developments.
  • Despite improvements, there remains significant room for further enhancement in infant and young child feeding practices.
  • Continued efforts are necessary to achieve optimal feeding outcomes for children in Bangladesh.
Abstract

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