An Overview of Infant and Young Child Feeding, 6-24 Months

Jean Baker, AED/LINKAGES

Outline

I. The “Big Picture” and How to Impact It

II. A Better Understanding of the Issues

III. The Role for Processed Complementary Foods

Complementary Feeding is…

Then: Weaning foods…complementary foods

Period when other foods or liquids are provided along with breastmilk

Now: Period when child receives both breastmilk (or a breastmilk substitute) and solid or semi-solid food.

The ‘Big Picture’ and How to Impact It

General_2000.shp2 - 1111 - 2020 - 2828 - 3737 - 46

150 Million Children are Underweight

Prevalence of underweight in children 0 - 4 years old

de Onis and Blossner, 2001

Malnutrition Happens Early

-2

-1.5

-1

-0.5

0

0.5

0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 42 45 48 51 54 57 60

Age (months)

Z-s

core

(N

CH

S)

Africa Asia Latin America and Caribbean

Weight for age by region

-2.5

-2

-1.5

-1

-0.5

0

0.5

0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 42 45 48 51 54 57 60

Age (months)

Z-s

core

(N

CH

S)

Africa Asia Latin America and Caribbean

“Virtually all growth faltering occurs in the first 2 years, most of it during infancy”

Length for Age by Region

Malnutrition has a Lasting ImpactWorldwide 182 Million Children are Stunted

Both girls are 3 ½ years old

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Africa Americas E. Medit E. Europe South Asia USA

Anemia Prevalence by Global RegionAges 0-4 years

5 million Children Die Annually from the Underlying Causes of Malnutrition

Estimated contribution of undernutrition to under-five mortality by cause

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Diarrhoea Malaria Pneumonia Measles All-cause

Proportion of deaths associated with undernutrition All Deaths

Sources: For cause-specific mortality: EIP/WHO. For deaths associated with malnutrition: Caulfield LE, Black RE. Malnutrition and the global burden of disease: underweight and cause-specific mortality.

Top Three Prevention Interventions

Prevention Intervention Number Deaths prevented (% of all <5

deaths) (thousands)

1. Breastfeeding 1,301 13%

2. Insecticide-treated materials 691 7%

3. Complementary feeding 587 6%

Source: Lancet, 2003

Further EvidenceEfficacy Trials & Programs in 14 Countries

• Child growth improved with increased dietary intake (as measured by anthropometry)

• Nutritional improvements support Lancet estimates of reductions in undernutrition and mortality

• Studies verified importance of feeding practices, not just food

Source: Caulfied, Huffman, Piwoz, 1999

A Better Understanding of the Issues

Causes of Poor Growth in Infants and Young Children

• Poor maternal nutritional status at conception and undernutrition in utero

• Suboptimal feeding practices

• Impaired absorption of nutrients due to intestinal infections or parasites

• Combination of above

Issue One: Suboptimal Feeding Practices (Birth – 24 months)

Non-Exclusive Breastfeeding

Currently only about 39% of infants worldwide are exclusively breastfed during the first 6 months of life

Poorly Timed Complementary Feeding

Prevalence of Timely Complementary Feeding, 1995 and 2002

64

40 4046

6572

5660

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Africa Region Region of theAmericas

South EastAsia Region

GlobalEstimates

19952002

Infrequent Feeding

• Because of small stomach size, children need to be fed frequently throughout the day

• Labor, time, and resource constraints are often obstacles to frequent feedings

Inadequate Food Quality & Quantity

• Inadequate energy density

• Too much bulk or too diluted

• Too little variety• Too few

micronutrients, especially iron

Poor Feeding Methods, Hygiene, and Child Care Practices

• Unsupervised feedings • Lack of interaction

and encouragement• Contaminated foods

and utensils• Poor food hygiene

Issue Two: Nutrient Gaps During Complementary Feeding Period

(6-24 months)

Nutrient Gaps

• Breastmilk important source of energy, fat, and other nutrients and continues to protect against illness and death

• But complementary foods needed to meet increasing nutrient needs of the growing child

Energy Gap - Contribution of Breastmilk during Complementary

Feeding Period

The Iron Gap

Issue Three: Measuring Complementary Feeding

Measurement Issues Timely Complementary Feeding (TCF) indicator is

problematic, time-bound, and gives no information regarding:

- Quality

- Frequency

- Food diversity

- Caregiver practices

Issue Four: What Effect Does HIV and AIDS Have on

Complementary Feeding?

Special Challenge: HIV and Infant Feeding

The Role for Processed Complementary Foods

History of Processed Complementary Foods

• 1950s - Concern about protein intake• 1960s - Failure of processed foods to reach low

income kids • 1977 - Review showed little impact on nutrition

(beginning of Nestle boycott)• 1980 - Code of Marketing Breastmilk

Substitutes• Late 1980s - Shift from commercial to

community-based focus

Why now? What’s changed?

• Lancet endorsement of CF• Improved technology • More palatable formulations • Improved marketing, transport, logistics• Increased “demand” for products and

“buying power”• Greater experience in building private/

public sector partnerships • Urbanization

29

1517

5355

42

74

37 37

76

47

85

54

61

82

World Africa Asia Latin America/Caribbean

More DevelopedRegions

1950 2000 2030

Source: United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects: The 2003 Revision (medium scenario), 2004.

Trends in Urbanizationby Region

Summary - Challenges

• Show impact on child growth/health

• Increase geographic coverage & scale

• Ensure safeguards for breastfeeding

• Focus on behaviors and food quality

Global Framework for IYCF

• Recognizes CF has received less attention

• Embraces feeding continuum

• Recommends viewing CF in broader framework

• Updates calorie & nutrient needs

• Provides impetus for new ‘guiding’ principles for CF

Guiding Principles for Complementary Feeding

(PAHO, WHO, 2001)

• Excl BF duration and age of intro of CF

• Maintenance of BF• Responsive feeding• Safe preparation and storage of CF• Amount of CF needed• Food consistency• Meal frequency and energy density• Nutrient content of CF• Use of vitamin mineral supplements or

fortified products for infant and mother• Feeding during/after illness

Thank You!