title: Infant and young child feeding practices among children under 2 years of age and maternal exposure to infant and young child feeding messages and promotions in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
abstract: There are limited data describing infant and young child feeding practices (IYCF) in urban Tanzania. This study assessed the types of foods consumed by children under 2 years of age and maternal exposure to promotions of these foods in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 305 mothers of children less than 24 months of age who attended child health services in October and November, 2014. Among infants less than 6 months of age, rates of exclusive breastfeeding were low (40.8%) and a high proportion (38.2%) received semi-solid foods. Continued breastfeeding among 20-23-month-olds was only 33.3%. Consumption of breastmilk substitutes was not prevalent, and only 3.9% of infants less than 6 months of age and 4.8% of 6-23 month-olds were fed formula. Among 6-23-month-olds, only 38.4% consumed a minimum acceptable diet (using a modified definition). The homemade complementary foods consumed by the majority of 6-23-month-olds (85.2%) were cereal-dominated and infrequently contained micronutrient-rich ingredients. Only 3.1% of 6-23-month-olds consumed commercially produced infant cereal on the day preceding the interview. In contrast, commercially produced snack foods were consumed by 23.1% of 6-23-month-olds. Maternal exposure to commercial promotions of breastmilk substitutes and commercially produced complementary foods was low (10.5% and 1.0%, respectively), while exposure to promotions of commercially produced snack foods was high (45.9%). Strategies are needed to improve IYCF practices, particularly with regard to exclusive and continued breastfeeding, increased dietary diversity and consumption of micronutrient-rich foods, and avoidance of feeding commercially produced snack foods.
authors.affiliation: Consultant to Helen Keller International.
authors.forename: Bineti S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Vitta
authors.affiliation: Helen Keller International, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benjamin
authors.affiliation: Helen Keller International, Asia Pacific Regional Office, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
authors.forename: Alissa M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pries
authors.affiliation: Helen Keller International, 1120 20th St, NW Suite 500 N, Washington, DC, 20036, USA.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Champeny
authors.affiliation: Helen Keller International, 1120 20th St, NW Suite 500 N, Washington, DC, 20036, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zehner
authors.affiliation: Consultant to Helen Keller International.
authors.forename: Sandra L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Huffman
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000208:ethnology; D002657:Child Development; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology; D057140:Fast Foods / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D005515:Food Labeling; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000191:economics; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000191:economics; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology; D062410:Snacks / Q000208:ethnology; D013636:Tanzania