- Introduction
Community based infant and young child feeding was informed at accelerating interventions aimed at improving infant and young child feeding (IYCF) at community level as a key priority in the effort to improve survival, growth and development of children with equity in the emergency set up, where optimal feeding of children during the first two years is critical to break the cycle of malnutrition from generation to generation. The first 12 months is recognized as being the most important window of opportunity for establishing healthy growth. Infant and child feeding practices are major determinants of the risk of malnutrition. A very large proportion of women specially in IDPs and host communities in Xudur district do not practice optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding behavior for their children. While large number of babies do not receive breastfeeding within one hour of birth as practices should be and this inadequacy is largely in the entire south central regions in Somalia thus this project was intended to reduce the poor IYCF practices among the venerable and drought affected population in Xudur as well as improved the maternal health services within the project locations.
- Objective of group session
IYCF sessions objectives were as follows
- To promote, protect and support optimal IYCF practices
- Define optimal infant and young child feeding practices within the target group
- Appreciate importance of strong coordination, communication in IYCF
- Number of session conducted against target
| Plan IYCF session | Target number of beneficiaries | # of session conducted | Total number of beneficiaries reached from the conducted session |
| 24 | 1200 | 24 | 1,200 |
- The activities session focussed on
The following were the main activities focussed under each IYCF sessions conducted
- Mass Awareness for appropriate breastfeeding and child feeding Practices
- Early initiation of breastfeeding; immediately after birth, preferably within one hour.
- Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life i. e 180 days (no other foods or fluids, not even water; but allows infant to receive ORS, drops, syrups of vitamins, minerals and medicines when required)
- Timely introduction of complementary foods (solid, semisolid or soft foods) after the age of six months i. e 180 days.
- Continued breastfeeding for 2 years or beyond
- Age appropriate complementary feeding for children 6-23 months, while continuing breastfeeding. Children should receive food from 4 or more food groups.
- CONCCLUSION
The IYCF session was successful conducted and several IYCF promotional messages were passed through discussions, demonstration using IEC materials such as banners and stickers. The importance of exclusive breastfeeding was covered in each session and mothers were shown on the positioning of the child when breastfeeding.
The subsequent sessions will however, ensure to dwell more on the practices and knowledge of the mothers/caregivers in the target location in Xudur district
- Implementation photos
