title: Determinants of infant and young child feeding practices in Rupandehi, Nepal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Undernutrition is a major problem in Nepal and meeting the minimum dietary standard is essential for growth and development of young children. Continuous monitoring of such practices is important to inform policy and program formulation. This study aimed to assess complementary feeding practices, and associated factors in Western Nepal.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Rupandehi district of Western Nepal. Face-to-face interviews were conducted among 178 mothers of young children aged 6-23 months using a structured questionnaire and data on complementary feeding practices. These practices were reported as frequency distribution and the factors associated were ascertained using multiple logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 57% of mothers initiated complementary feeding at the age of 6 months. While the proportion of young children receiving minimum meal frequency was reasonably high (84 %), meal diversity (35%) and minimum acceptable diet (33%) remained low. Maternal education and having had their children's growth monitored were independently associated with receiving minimum acceptable diet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Few infants and young children received the recommended infant and young children feeding practices. Implementing health promotion programs that educate and enhance the skills of mothers should be a priority for future nutrition interventions.
authors.affiliation: Save the Children, Kathmandu, Nepal. kapilpg@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kapil Prasad
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Gautam
authors.affiliation: Nepal Development Society, Bharatpur, Nepal. adhikarimandira2013@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mandira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adhikari
authors.affiliation: Save the Children, Kathmandu, Nepal. rkchettri@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Resham Bahadur
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Khatri
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal. madhu@neuro.org.np.
authors.forename: Madhu Dixit
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Devkota
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000032:analysis*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009390:Nepal; D009753:Nutritive Value; D064167:Recommended Dietary Allowances; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires