Issue 4, January 2011: A new year of action and media campaigns for IYCF...
Alive & Thrive looks forward to a year full of activity in 2011. This issue features the launch of a national communications plan for infant and young child feeding (IYCF) in Bangladesh, Alive & Thrive's plans for the upcoming year, and the fourth Abstract Digest, with summaries of recent infant and young child feeding research.
Launching a national campaign in Bangladesh
On December 15 Dr. A.F.M. Ruhul Huq, Minister of Health and Family Welfare in Bangladesh, launched the National IYCF Communication Framework and Plan. An alliance of 30 development partners collaborated to focus and align messages for the national campaign, which includes 6 TV and radio spots.At the launch event, the Minister said, "Despite having our success in other areas of the health sector, performance in reducing or eliminating undernutrition is not satisfactory. Bangladesh will go far by undertaking the program of proper feeding of children."
To learn more:
- View a short video on the national campaign
- Watch one of the television spots
- Read more about the National IYCF Communication Plan
The year ahead
Alive & Thrive begins the new year poised to scale up improved IYCF practices. Highlights of activities planned for 2011 include:
- Bangladesh: Launching a national TV and radio campaign, enhancing the performance of more than 17,000 frontline workers, and linking complementary feeding with handwashing with soap
- Ethiopia: Engaging in a national and regional campaign to reduce stunting and building the capacity of government health extension workers to counsel mothers
- Viet Nam: Establishing the first ever IYCF franchises in pubic health facilities, launching a mass media campaign, and conducting workshops to strengthen provincial nutrition plans Global: Awarding several new grants to test innovative ideas for scaling up effective and sustainable IYCF interventions
Abstract Digest
In each issue of Abstract Digest, Alive & Thrive summarizes recently published research, highlighting key information about infant and young child feeding practices as well as program implications. Clicking on the title will take you to the longer A&T summary.
A survey sample of preschool children and their caregivers in Bangladesh demonstrated a high prevalence of inadequate dietary zinc intakes. Simulation exercises indicated that the adoption of rice bred to have higher zinc content would decrease the estimated prevalence of zinc inadequacy, especially among women.
Indonesian children who consume iron-fortified milk and noodles are less likely to be anemic
In a cross-sectional study of 6-59 month old children in Indonesia, children in both urban and rural areas who consumed iron-fortified powdered milk were less likely to be anemic, and children in rural areas who consumed both iron-fortified milk and noodles were less likely to be anemic than children who consumed only one fortified product.
In a longitudinal study in Niger, the effectiveness of a 4-month supplementation strategy with ~500 kcal/day of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) designed for treatment of severe malnutrition was compared with a 6-month supplementation strategy with ~250 kcal/day of ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF) designed to prevent malnutrition. Children who received RUSF had a lower risk of becoming stunted, and in villages in which a shorter-term preventive supplementation program had previously been implemented, children who received RUSF also had a lower risk of becoming wasted.
Experts highlight the benefits of Kangaroo Mother Care in both low-income and high-tech settings
A review of current research shows that Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) in both low-income and affluent countries can lead to improved mother-infant bonding, reduced maternal depression, and earlier initiation and longer duration of breastfeeding. The current WHO practical guide on KMC needs revising and updating to improve coverage of the method.
Using sophisticated statistical methods to analyze trends in breastfeeding duration and changes in the factors influencing those trends, researchers found that the majority of the countries included in the analysis showed improvements in breastfeeding over the study period. Changes in individual behaviors, rather than changes in socioeconomic and demographic factors, were the largest contributor to the positive national breastfeeding trends.