The Determinants of Nutritional Intake of Young Children in Morarano Chrome, District of Amparafaravola

In Madagascar, 38% of children under 5 years are stunted. Alaotra Mangoro is the worst affected region. The factors contributing to stunting are multiple, including insufficient nutritional intake resulting from inadequate dietary practices and household food insecurity. The objective of this work was to identify factors impacting the food intake of young children in Morarano Chrome, selected for two reasons: i) high prevalence of stunting despite the availability of various food resources ii) scarcity of nutrition actions. The sample consisted of 101 pairs of caregivers and children aged 9 - 12 months. Each pair was video-recorded during a meal of Koba Aina gruel fortified complementary feeding. The different behaviors were coded according to the Moore classification (2006). Porridge intake was measured for each child and meal duration was assessed. The household's socioeconomic level, the health and nutritional status, and the perception of the child's appetite were also evaluated. The results showed a very low appetite among the children, with an average intake of 98.5g during a meal (12.8g/kg BW). Three factors having positive impacts on quantities were identified to be statistically linked to children's intake: i) meal duration, ii) infant's usual appetite, iii) adoption of responsive feeding by the mother.

Key-words: stunting, intake, responsive feeding

27/06/2024