Infant and young child feeding practices and child linear growth in Nepal: Regression-decomposition analysis of national survey data, 1996-2016.

ABSTRACT: Suboptimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices have profound implications on child survival, health, growth, and development. First, our study analysed trends in 18 IYCF indicators and height-for-age z-score (HAZ) and stunting prevalence across Nepal's Family Health Survey 1996 and four rounds of Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys from 2001-2016. Second, we constructed multivariable regression models and decomposed the contribution of optimal IYCF practices on HAZ and stunting prevalence over the 1996-2016 period. Our findings indicate that most age-appropriate IYCF practices and child linear growth outcomes improved over the past two decades. At present, according to the World Health Organization's tool for national assessment of IYCF practices, duration of breastfeeding is

SUBMITTER: Hanley-Cook G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8770650 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature