measuring infant and young child complementary feeding practices

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Shenggen Fan, April 2015

Measuring Infant and Young Child Complementary Feeding Practices: Indicators, Current Practice and Research Gaps

Marie RuelDirector | Poverty, Health and Nutrition | IFPRI

87th Nestle Nutrition Institute Workshop | Singapore May 8-11, 2016



Key Milestones in Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices

Review of scientific knowledge on CF (1998)

WHO Guiding Principles for CF of:• Breastfed (BF) child

(2003)

• Non BF child (2005) WHO Indicators for

measuring IYCF practices (2008)



Taking Stock on Indicators of CF practices

What is the status of CF indicators?

How have they been used so far and what are some of the key findings?

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the indicators?

Suggestions for way forward


Background on IYCF and related indicators



10 Guiding Principles for Complementary Feeding of the Breastfed Child

1. Duration of exclusive BF & age of introduction of CF

2. Continued BF3. Responsive feeding4. Safe preparation &

storage of CF5. Amount of CF needed

6. Food consistency7. Meal frequency energy

density8. Nutrient content of CF9. Use of supplements or

fortified products10. Feeding during & after

illness

WHO 2003



The Continuum of Infant and Child Feeding

0-6 mo 6-9 mo 9-12 mo 12-24 mo

•Exclusive BF•Initiate breastfeeding soon after birth•Feed colostrum•Avoid prelacteal feeds

•Avoid bottle-feeding

•Continue BF•Introduce variety of CF, including animal foods•Feed CF foods 2-3 times/d + snacks

•Avoid bottle-feeding

•Continue BF•Increase amount, variety, frequency of CF, including animal foods•Feed complementary foods 3-4 times/d + snacks•Avoid bottle- feeding

•Continue BF•Continue to give a variety of foods, complete transition to family diet•Feed complementary foods 3-4 times/d + snacks•Avoid bottle-feeding



Measuring CF Practices is Complex….

CF practices are multi-dimensional

Include a number of inter-related practices

Dynamic, change rapidly within short age intervals

Their effects on child outcomes are likely to be cumulative

Complement breastmilk intake (largely variable)



WHO IYCF Indicators for Breastfed Child

8 core indicators:

• 3 BF practices• 5 CF practices

7 optional indicators (all focused on BF practices)


Shenggen Fan, April 2015WHO 2008

5 WHO CF Indicators for Breastfed Child

INDICATOR Timing of introduction of

solid semi-solid and soft foods

Minimum dietary diversity (MDD)

Minimum meal frequency (MMF)

Minimum acceptable diet (MAD)

Consumption of iron-rich/ iron-fortified foods

MEASURES Optimal timing of

introduction of CF foods

Micronutrient adequacy of diet

Energy adequacy of diet

Composite indicator (BF + MDD + MMF)

Adequacy of iron intake



For use in large surveys for:• Population-level assessments• Population targeting• Monitoring & evaluation

Had to be simple and practical, yet valid and reliable

This limits dimensions of CF practices that can be captured

Were meant to be used as a full set to reflect multi-dimensional nature of IYCF

Purpose of 2008 WHO Indicators



BF

CF

0-5 mo 6-8 mo 9-23 mo

Continued Continued

Timely introduction

Quantity of CF: - Meal frequency

Quality of CF: - Dietary diversity + iron foods

Hygiene/food safety

Responsive feeding

Feeding during illness

Texture/consistency

Exclusive

CF Indicators versus Guiding Principles


How have the WHO CF indicators been used so far?



For Population-Level Assessments and Country Comparisons Reveals grossly inadequate

CF practices, esp. SS-Africa, South Asia• < 30% MAD• Few countries with > 30% MDD• Poorer practices (younger, rural,

less educated mothers, poorer)

Pooled analysis (46DHS):• < 33% MDD• ~50% meeting MMF• 21% MAD• Africa & Asia fare worst than LA

Indicators have helped unveil the severe problem of poor IYCF practices globally

WHO 2010 Country Profiles



For Monitoring & Evaluation of Programs In the past, programs aimed

at improving IYCF assessed impact on child anthropometry• Likely due to lack of standard

IYCF indicators Indicators helped measure &

document impacts on practices (often more achievable outcome)• E.g. A&T, agriculture-

nutrition programs; social protection programs

Consumption of iron-rich foods

Minimum acceptable diet

Minimum meal frequency

Minimum dietary diversity

Timely introduction of solid, semi-solid

or soft foods

0 20 40 60 80 100

A&T-I Endline

%

Availability of IYCF indicators has led to their use for M&E and stimulated investments in

programs aimed at improving IYCF

Menon et al. in press



Extensive analysis of association between dietary diversity and child antropometry

• Robust results – strong DD, consistent associations with linear growh, controlling for energy intake and SES

New studies looking at associations between broader set of IYCF and child anthropometry

• Pooled analysis (14 DHS) – associations between MDD, iron rich foods and stunting; between MMF and underweight

• Country analyses (8 studies) confirmed association between DD and HAZ (3 countries); MAD and stunting in 4 countries.

New studies look at determinants of CF practices (e.g. special issue of MCN on patterns and determinants of CF practices in South Asia)

For Research on Determinants and Consequences of Poor IYCF Practices

IYCF indicators have been used extensively to address important gaps in knowledge and

understand patterns, determinants and consequences of poor IYCF practices


What are the strengths and weaknesses of the WHO CF Indicators?



Simple, practical, relatively easy to use in large-scale surveys

Measure some key dimensions of CF practices

Measure age-specific CF practices Useful for the purposes for which they were

designed (population-level assessment, M&E, population targeting)

Strengths of WHO CF Indicators



Most have not been validated against gold standard (except DD)

For some, unclear if they reflect underlying construct they are meant to measure• Esp. MMF, timing of introduction of CF, MAD, iron-rich

foods Based on 24-h recall – subject to recall error and bias Do not capture dynamic nature of CF or usual practice Rely on unverified assumptions related to breast milk

intake and nutrient contribution Include only a subset of dimensions of CF; do not include

indicators related to prevention of overweight/obesity

Some Weaknesses of WHO CF Indicators


The Way Forward



Need to revisit existing set of indicators and carry out relevant validation studies

Verify underlying assumptions and adjust indicators:• Energy density (for MMF)• Differentiation of snacks and meals (for MMF)• Food consumed in small amounts (for MDD)

Assess magnitude of error/bias due to recall Revisit missing indicators/dimensions of CF, including

overweight/obesity prevention Develop simplified, technology-smart 24-h dietary

assessment method to quantify nutrient intake from CF

Time to Revisit our Set of CF Indicators



Conclusions

WHO CF indicators have been immensely useful – to measure, document, raise awareness, stimulate investments and action

They have been used extensively for all the purposes for which they were designed and more

Almost 10 years after their release, it is time to revisit them, improve them, develop new ones and promote their appropriate use

measuring infant and young child complementary feeding practices

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