(PO15-62-22) Impact of a Homestead Food Production Intervention on Infant and Young Child Feeding and Home Environment in Bangladesh

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Presenting Author(s)

Amanda S. Wendt, PhD
– Working Group Leader, Research Department, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Member of the Leibniz Association, Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany

Co-Author(s)

JW

Jillian L. Waid, MSW
– Research Department, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Member of the Leibniz Association
MA

Masum Ali
– Helen Keller International, Bangladesh Country Office
SG

Sabine Gabrysch, MD Dr. med. MSc PhD
– Professor for Climate Change and Health & Head, Research Department 2, Potsdam Institute of Climate Impact Research, Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany

Disclosure(s):

Amanda S. Wendt, PhD: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Objectives: Optimal child growth and development depend on many factors including proper nutrition and feeding practices as well as a stimulating home environment. We aimed to assess the impact of a Homestead Food Production (HFP) program on infant and child feeding as well as child stimulation practices as part of the Food and Agricultural Approaches to Reducing Malnutrition (FAARM) cluster-randomized trial in rural Bangladesh.

Methods: The HFP program promoted increased dietary diversity and improved child feeding practices based on the WHO’s Essential Nutrition Actions, including responsive feeding and the importance of vitamin A capsules. Practices for child stimulation were not promoted although both intervention and control groups received toys (e.g., finger puppets, balls, etc.) during data collection. The 2019-20 FAARM endline survey included measures on infant and young child feeding (IYCF), responsive feeding, and family care indicators. Data were collected on 1,142 children (0-39 months of age) and sub-samples were analyzed based on age restrictions for IYCF (6-23m) and responsive feeding (6-39m). We used multilevel linear and logistic regression to assess intervention impact, adjusting for child age and cluster.

Results: Children in the FAARM intervention group were more likely to have achieved minimum dietary diversity (OR (95%CI): 1.9 (1.3, 2.7)), minimum adequate diet (OR (95%CI): 1.9 (1.3, 2.7)), and more likely to have received a vitamin A capsule in the last six months (OR (95%CI): 1.6 (1.2, 2.1)). In their home environment, children in the intervention group had toys from a greater number of sources and were more likely to have toys for pretending. No differences were seen in exclusive breastfeeding, iron-rich food consumption, or responsive feeding indicators.

Conclusions: The FAARM intervention was able to improve children’s diets and selected aspects of child stimulation.

Funding Sources: The Federal German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is the primary funder of the FAARM trial and its HFP intervention.