Infant and young child feeding practices and nutritional status in Bhutan

• DOI: 10.1111/mcn.12580
• Publication Date: 2017-12-21T17:01:16Z
• Authors: Rebecca K. Campbell; Victor M. Aguayo; Yunhee Kang; Laigden Dzed; Vandana Joshi; Jillian Waid; Suvadra Datta Gupta; Nancy Haselow; Keith P. West
• Keywords: Underweight

Abstract In South Asia, childhood undernutrition persists while overweight is increasing. Internationally recommended infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices promote healthy nutritional status; however, little known about IYCF in Bhutan, investigated here using 2015 National Nutrition Survey data. WHO/UNICEF indicators, anthropometry household socio‐economic status were available for 441 children <24 months. Stunting, wasting, underweight prevalence (<−2Z length‐for‐age [LAZ], weight‐for‐age, [WAZ] weight‐for‐length [WLZ], respectively) 15%, 9%, 5%, respectively, whereas (WLZ >2) was 6%. survey‐design‐adjusted analyses, 52% of mothers 0‐ to 5‐month olds reported exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), with EBF less common girls than boys (OR: 0.2 [95% CI: 0.1–0.9]). Although 61% breastfed at 2 years 75% >6 months met a minimum daily meal frequency, only 18% 6–23 dietary diversity. unassociated risk stunting, or underweight, possibly due relatively low anthropometric failure small sample size. However, currently‐breastfed often [OR: ~0.1 (95% upper limit ≤1.0)]. Neither nor most complementary differed by status, but the highest two fifth wealth index had 7.8 (1.3–46.9) 5.3 (1.1–25.2) times greater odds lowest meeting diversity criteria. Low rates EBF, given possible protection against overweight, inadequate offer evidence guide future program interventions improve children.