Program challenges
Viet Nam experienced impressive economic growth and rapid reductions in poverty over the last decade, but the prevalence of malnutrition is uncharacteristically high for a country at this stage of development. Alive & Thrive aims to ensure nutrition benefits along with economic growth by improving infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices.
High levels of stunting. More than one-third of children under 5 years of age in Viet Nam are stunted, and in some provinces the rate is as high as 46%. At the same time, obesity in children and adults is on the rise. Malnutrition is present in all economic strata and in all geographic regions of Viet Nam.
Low rates of optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices. Most women (97%) breastfeed, but only 57% initiate breastfeeding in the first hour of birth. Few women practice exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months: 20% in rural areas and 8% in urban areas. Bottle-feeding among infants under 12 months of age has grown from 2% in 2000 to 26% in 2005. Only 23% of children are breastfed up to two years of age. Complementary feeding practices are also inadequate. Semi-solid foods are introduced too early and are often of poor quality. Among infants 6-11 months old, 65% receive both breastmilk and complementary foods the minimum recommended times per day.
Improving breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices requires addressing sizable challenges in Viet Nam, including:
- Perception among mothers, caregivers, health workers and the general public that Vietnamese women cannot produce sufficient breastmilk to meet their infants’ requirements
- Early introduction of complementary foods that do not fully meet infant nutritional requirements
- Aggressive marketing and ready availability of infant formula
- Lack of support from family members and employers
- Limited health worker commitment and skills to encourage and support mothers to breastfeed