First foods: Diet quality among infants aged 6-23 months in 42 countries.

ABSTRACT: Diet quality is closely linked to child growth and development, especially among infants aged 6-23 months who need to complement breastmilk with the gradual introduction of nutrient-rich solid foods. This paper links Demographic and Health Survey data on infant feeding to household and environmental factors for 76,641 children in 42 low- and middle-income countries surveyed in 2006-2013, providing novel stylized facts about diets in early childhood. Multivariate regressions examine the associations of household socioeconomic characteristics and community level indicators of climate and infrastructure with dietary diversity scores (DDS). Results show strong support for an infant-feeding version of Bennett's Law, as wealthier households introduce more diverse foods at earlier ages, with addi

SUBMITTER: Choudhury S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6894322 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature