Association Between Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Practices and the Nutritional Status of Children Aged 6-59 Months in Bagamoyo District.

This study was conducted to assess the association between infant and young child feeding practices and the nutritional status of children aged 6-59 months in Bagamoyo District. Specifically, to determine nutritional status of children aged 6-59 months; to examine knowledge regarding complementary infant feeding practice among mothers; and to determine the attitude of mothers on complementary infant and young children feeding practice. Pragmatism philosophy employed which involves quantitative and qualitative approach. It is a descriptive statistical approach, data collected from 93 mothers with their respective children and interviewed 21 Health Care workers, analyzed using SPSS Version 23, Microsoft excel and WHO anthropometric software. It was found that, the nutritional status of the children was poor ranging from -3 to -1 Z-Score. Mother’s knowledge had more influence followed by mothers’ attitude and lastly child feeding practice while demographic data had no significant impact. The study also found that mothers’ nutritional knowledge exists but it is low. Recommended that, nutritional education should be emphasized among mothers in the timing of introducing complementary foods to their children, appropriate feeding frequencies and choice of foods. Nutrition information and awareness should be provided to discourage misconception of certain foods. Therapeutic and supplementary feeding programs should be stepped up at Bagamoyo district to rescuer nutritional status of children. Capacity building for the caregivers focusing on child feeding practices specifically on type of food and timely child feeding. Key words: Knowledge, practice and attitude on IYCF for better nutritional status