title: Factors influencing feeding practices of extreme poor infants and young children in families of working mothers in Dhaka slums: A qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nutritional status differs between infants and young children living in slum and non-slum conditions-infants and young children living in City Corporation slums are likely to have worse nutritional status compared to those from non-slums. Furthermore, families in slums tend to engage female labor in cash-earning activities as a survival strategy; hence, a higher percentage of mothers stay at work. However, little is known about feeding practices for infants and young children in families with working mothers in slums. This study aims to understand the factors that determine feeding practices for infants and young children living in families with working mothers in Dhaka slums.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study adopted a qualitative approach. Sixteen In-depth Interviews, five Key Informant Interviews, and Focused Group Discussions were conducted with family members, community leaders, and program staff. Method triangulation and thematic analyses were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Feeding practices for infants and young children in families with working mothers are broadly determined by mothers' occupation, basis civic facilities, and limited family buying capacity. Although mothers have good nutritional knowledge, they negotiate between work and feeding their infants and young children. Household composition, access to cooking facilities, and poverty level were also found to be significant determining factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest a trade-off between mothers' work and childcare. The absence of alternative care support in homes and/or work places along with societal factors outweighs full benefits of project interventions. Improving alternative childcare support could reduce the burden of feeding practice experienced by working mothers and may improve nutritional outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Dushtha Shasthya Kendra, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Ashraful
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6851-1507
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kabir
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Policy Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mathilde Rose Louise
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Maitrot
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011204:Poverty Areas; D036301:Qualitative Research; D014505:Urban Population