Assessing infant and young child feeding priorities to inform the development of a nutrition social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) strategy during a pandemic threat

Objectives: This study was undertaken to identify stakeholder needs and wants in relation to an Infant and Young Child Feeding, Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) strategy for the 16 Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states during Covid-19 lockdowns and travel restrictions.Design: A rapid-assessment mixed-methods approach using qualitative and quantitative studies was adopted. Secondary data sources supported in-field findings. Setting/Subjects: Qualitative approaches included 17 key informant interviews from 7 SADC member states. Quantitative methods of an online survey elicited feedback from 61 participants from 11 SADC member states.Outcome measures: More strategic, best practice, infant and young child feeding SBCC programmes are recommended in SADC.Results: Programme challenges included increased demands on health systems from Covid-19, poor attitudes and beliefs toward IYCF behaviours, the dual burden of undernutrition and overnutrition, and financial and human resource capacity challenges to implement and evaluate SBCC campaigns at scale. Opportunities were also identified for improved detection,better meeting IYCF nutritional needs from locally sourced foods, training and capacity building for greater engagement of front-line field staff, effective policy development to support parent-friendly hospitals and workplaces, and improved regional integration. Conclusions: The needs assessment demonstrated that priority programme planning can continue while the health sector deals with a pandemic threat. The adaptation to virtual support provided a variety of learnings for research designs, data collection and analysis, albeit over an extended timeframe of six months. A number of innovative approaches were identified in the resultant SBCC strategy for SADC along with opportunities for regional efficiencies in adapting existing, best practice SBCC creative and programming approaches.

Tendencia de la lactancia materna exclusiva en Chile antes y después de la implementación de la Ley postnatal parental / Trend of exclusive breastfeeding in Chile before and after the parental postnatal law

INTRODUCCIÓN: Dada la implementación de la ley postnatal parental en niños atendidos en sistema público de salud, el objetivo de este estudio es describir la tendencia de la lactancia materna exclusiva (LME) al sexto de mes de vida en Chile antes y después de la implementación de la ley postnatal parental. MATERIAL Y MÉTODO: Estudio observacional de tipo poblacional, a partir de los datos de LME hasta el sexto mes obtenidos de los registros estadísticos mensuales (REM), disponibles en el Departamento de Información y Estadísticas en Salud de niños atendidos en el sistema público de salud. Se determinó la prevalencia y la prevalencia ponderada por región y país. Se analizó la variación porcentual acumulada (VP) y variación porcentual anual (VPA) de la prevalencia utilizando un modelo de regresión lineal en el período antes (2008-2011) y después (2011-2013) de la implementación de la ley. RESULTADOS: La mayor prevalencia de LME se observó en los años 2008 (49,1%) y 2009 (45,1%) y la menor en el año 2011(41,1%). Las regiones de Antofagasta (33,6%) y Atacama (31,6%) presentaron la menor prevalencia ponderada del período 2008-2013. Se observó una VPA negativa en el período 2008-2011 y una VPA positiva en el período 2011-2013 en todas las regiones y en el país, con excepción de la región del Gral. Libertador B. O'Higgins. CONCLUSIONES: La promulgación de la ley que aumenta el postnatal de 12 a 24 semanas revierte la tendencia decreciente de la LME al sexto mes. Esto podría incentivar a otros gobiernos para invertir recursos y esfuerzos en la primera infancia aportando a la equidad y la salud.

INTRODUCTION: To describe the trend of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) until sixth month of life in Chile before and after the implementation of the parental postnatal law in children treated in the public health system. MATERIAL AND METHOD: An observational and population-based study, using the EBF data up to the sixth month obtained from monthly statistical records (MSR), available at the Department of Information and Statistics on Health of children treated in the public health system. Prevalence and weighted prevalence were determined by region and country. Cumulative percentage variation (PV) and annual percentage variation (APV) of prevalence were analyzed using a linear regression model in the period before (2008-2011) and after (2011-2013) of the implementation of the law. RESULTS: The highest prevalence of EBF was observed in 2008 (49.1%) and 2009 (45.1%) and the lowest in 2011 (41.1%). The Antofagasta (33.6%) and Atacama Region (31.6%) had the lowest weighted prevalence of the period. A negative APV was observed in the period 2008-2011 and a positive APV in the period 2011-2013 in all regions and in the country, except for the B. O'Higgins Region. CONCLUSIONS: The enactment of the law that increases EBF until 24 weeks of life reverses the decreasing tendency previosly observed until the sixth month. This could encourage other governments to invest resources and efforts in early childhood by providing equity and health.