Open AccessComparisons of complementary feeding indicators among children aged 6–23 months in A nglophone and F rancophone W est A frican countries
Author(s) -
Issaka Abukari I.,
Agho Kingsley E.,
N. Page Andrew,
L. Burns Penelope,
Stevens Garry J.,
Dibley Michael J.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
maternal and child nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1740-8709
pISSN - 1740-8695
DOI - 10.1111/mcn.12196
Subject(s) - french , sierra leone , medicine , developing country , dietary diversity , socioeconomics , geography , economic growth , food security , agriculture , sociology , archaeology , economics
Stunting, a consequence of suboptimal complementary feeding practices, continues to be a significant public health problem in W est A frica. This paper aimed to compare rates of complementary feeding indicators among children aged 6–23 months between four A nglophone and seven F rancophone W est A frican countries. The data used for this study were the most recent D emographic and H ealth S urveys of the various countries, namely G hana, L iberia, N igeria, S ierra L eone ( A nglophone countries), B enin, B urkina F aso, C ote d' I voire, G uinea, M ali, N iger and S enegal ( F rancophone countries) conducted between 2006 and 2013. The analyses were limited to last‐born children aged 6–23 months and covered 34 999 children: 12 623 in the A nglophone countries and 22 376 children in the F rancophone countries. Complementary feeding indicators were examined using the method proposed by the World Health Organization ( WHO ) in 2008. Introduction of solid, semi‐solid or soft foods among children aged 6–23 months in the A nglophone countries ranged from 55.3% ( L iberia) to 72.6% ( G hana). The corresponding rates for the F rancophone countries ranged from 29.7% ( M ali) to 65.9% ( S enegal). The average rate of minimum dietary diversity for the A nglophone countries was 32.0% while that of the F rancophone countries was only 10.6%. While the minimum meal frequency rates ranged between 42.0% ( S ierra L eone) and 55.3% ( N igeria) for the A nglophone countries, the corresponding rates for the F rancophone countries ranged between 25.1% ( M ali) and 52.4% ( N iger). Both the A nglophone and the F rancophone countries reported alarmingly low rates of minimum acceptable diet, with the two groups of countries averaging rates of 19.9% ( A nglophone) and 5.5% ( F rancophone). The rates of all four complementary feeding indicators across all the 11 countries fell short of the WHO 's requirement for optimal complementary feeding practices. Intervention studies using cluster‐randomised controlled trials are needed in order to improve the nutritional status of young children in W est A frica.