Feeding indicators for children 6-23 months lessons from Chinyunyu Community Rufunsa District Lusaka Zambia- A formative study.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to generate evidence that will be used to create behavioral change project materials tools and approaches promoting optimum feeding practices for children six-23 months of age that are culturally appropriate within the local context of Rufunsa district while promoting consumption of nutritious resilient legumes namely; Cow peas and soybean. Methods: This was a case study which used the grounded theory approach which brought out individual and social processes related to feeding of children aged six to 23 months. There was a mixed purposive sampling of 53 participants; which included 24 women of reproductive age with one or more living children under-two years of age who have lived in the community for one year and have a living mother-in-law within the same community. Others were three husbands as well as seven mother-in-laws of some of the women. In addition community and religious leaders as well as a volunteer working in the health sector participated. Data was collected using Photo-voice Focus Group Discussions and In-depth Interviews. It was then transcribed verbatim and organized into codes using NVIVO software and analyzed thematically. Results: Children aged six to 23 months are not fed according WHO recommendations in Chinyunyu. This may apply to the whole Rufunsa district. Minimum Dietary diversity emerges as an indicator of choice for a project following this study for feeding of children aged six to 23 months. This approach will also take care of all the other indicators as co-variates. It will also incorporate the promotion of nutritious and resilient food legumes in promoting dietary diversity in the District Conclusion: In order to improve on the feeding practices in the district dietary diversity will be promoted in the project following this study while treating other indicators as covariates.