Responsive Complementary Feeding Practices in Rural Muhanga District of Rwanda: A Mixed Methods Study.

Area of Science:

• Child Nutrition
• Public Health
• Maternal Practices

Background:

• Responsive feeding is crucial for infant and young child (IYC) food acceptance, dietary intake, growth, and development.
• Limited understanding exists regarding responsive feeding practices among IYC in Rwanda.
• This study investigated responsive feeding practices and barriers among mothers in rural Muhanga District, Rwanda.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the status of responsive feeding practices among mothers of IYC in rural Rwanda.
• To identify barriers hindering responsive feeding practices in the study population.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, longitudinal, exploratory mixed-methods study involving 29 mothers from two rural health centers.
• Interviews and direct observations of mother-child interactions during lunch meals at 6, 9, and 12 months of child age.
• Thematic analysis of transcribed interview data using Atlas.ti software.

Main Results:

• Mothers' verbal encouragement of eating increased with child's age.
• Less than half of mothers consistently allowed self-feeding, smiling, and talking during meals at 6, 9, and 12 months.
• Key barriers included lack of time, poverty, fear of mess, and food waste, limiting mother-child interaction and self-feeding.

Conclusions:

• Responsive feeding practices were underutilized due to time constraints, poverty, and concerns about food waste.
• Nutrition interventions should prioritize raising awareness of responsive feeding through education.
• Encouraging mothers to dedicate adequate time for interaction during feeding is recommended.