Complementary feeding practices in West Africa : statistics, epidemiology and policy implications

Abstract

Unlike breastfeeding, complementary feeding has not received the attention it requires, especially in low-income and middle-income countries. There is evidence to the effect that breast milk alone is nutritionally insufficient for children aged 6 months and over. Consequently, the World Health Organisation recommended commencement of complementary feeding at this juncture. This thesis aims to explore complementary feeding practices in West Africa. The thesis utilizes the newly developed WHO Infant and Young Child Feeding indicators and the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys of all the countries studied. It divides the West Africa sub-region into two groups; namely Anglophone (English-speaking) and Francophone (French-speaking) countries. The Anglophone countries comprise Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. The Francophone countries comprise Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Guinea, Mali, Niger and Senegal. The thesis first examines the determinants of early introduction of solid, semi-solid or soft foods among infants aged 3-5 months in both Anglophone and Francophone West African countries. It then compares complementary feeding indicators among children aged 6-23 months between the Anglophone countries on the one hand and the Francophone countries on the other. Determinants of sub-optimal complementary feeding practices in the Anglophone and Francophone countries are examined in the next two studies. Finally, the policy implications of the issue of sub-optimal complementary feeding practices in West Africa are presented. Six published papers have been integrated to form the core of this thesis. These published papers are presented in individual chapters of the thesis and are described in the next paragraph.

Date of Award	2015
Original language	English