Enhancing Infant Feeding Practices through Nutrition Behaviour Change Communication among Mothers in Marsabit County, Kenya
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Abstract
Adherence to proper feeding practices for infants and young children has proven to significantly decrease instances of malnutrition in countries with lower to middle incomes. Despite this, little is known about the impact of behaviour change communication on infant feeding practices, specifically in Marsabit County. The objective of this study was to investigate how adherence to nutrition behaviour change communication affects the way mothers feed their infants and young children. Using a cross-sectional descriptive survery design, data was collected from four sub-counties in Marsabit County. The sample included 316 participants who were mothers or caregivers of children <5 years from the total target population. The sample was obtained using cluster sampling and simple random sampling techniques. Closed-ended questionnaires were used to collect data. The data was analysed using descriptive and chi-square statistics with SPSS v25. Around 46% of the participants had received primary school education. Majority of the mothers were between 21 to 30 years (50.9%), and 86.1% were married. Individualized counseling sessions (84.5%) and household outreaches (81.6%) were the most frequently employed interpersonal counseling and communication approaches. Group-oriented methods such as social networks (86.2%) and group education (95.1%) proved most effective in promoting proper feeding practices for infants and young children (p < 0.05). There were no significant associations (p > 0.05) between interpersonal counseling and communication strategies and socio-demographic factors like age, education, marital status, and place of birth. Group-based approaches were notably influenced by education (p = 0.03) and place of birth (p = 0.02). The community's acceptance of infant and young child feeding practices via both interpersonal counseling and communication and group-based counseling approaches have been implemented by the Marsabit County Government. However, this achievement has not translated into the anticipated improvement in nutrition outcomes or the reduction of malnutrition in Marsabit as anticipated
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