Gender and child feeding practices in Belize- a trend analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20242199Keywords:
Belize, Child feeding practices, Gender, Inequality, Trend analysisAbstract
The study aimed to determine the trend and gender differences in child feeding practices in Belize based on consecutive multiple indicator cluster surveys (MICS) using a retrospective quantitative study. The secondary analysis of the last consecutive MICS data from 2006, 2011 and 2015-16 was done using SPSS software version 23. Association between gender and feeding practices was determined by bivariate analysis using chi-square test and p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. There was increased gender differentials in optimal feeding practices in children over the study period. The inequalities between male and female increased over the study period for most of the feeding practices except for exclusive breastfeeding where the gender inequality diminished. The exclusive breastfeeding rate among female children was higher than among male children in the three surveys but significant only in 2006 and 2011 surveys, p<0.05. More female children were timely initiated on complementary feeding compared to male children in the three surveys and was found to be significant in 2006 and 2015 surveys, p<0.05. Minimal meal frequency and minimal dietary diversity was higher among female than among male but there was no significant difference(p>0.05). The study shows evidence of gender differential in feeding practices. There is need to improve gender sensitization in terms of feeding practices within the households; develop and implement culturally appropriate gender sensitive guidance and approaches on optimum infant and young child feeding practices in the country.
Metrics
References
WHO Guideline for complementary feeding of infants and young children 6-23 months of age. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2023. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. Avialable at https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240081864. Accessed on 27 May 2024.
United Nations Children’s Fund. Improving Young Children’s Diets During the Complementary Feeding Period. UNICEF Programming Guidance. New York:2020. Avialable at https://www.unicef. org/documents/improving-young-childrens-diets-during-complementary-feeding-period-unicef-programming. Accessed on 27 May 2024.
WHO and UNICEF Indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding practices: definitions and measurement methods. Geneva: World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 2021. Licence: CC BYNC-SA 3.0 IGO; Avialable at https://www.who.int/publications /i/item/9789240018389. Accessed on 27 May 2024.
Katoch OR. Determinants of malnutrition among children: A systematic review. Nutrition. 2022;96:111565.
United Nations Children’s Fund. Fed to Fail? The crisis of children’s diets in early life. 2021 child nutrition report. UNICEF, New York, 2021. Avialable at https://data.unicef.org/resources/fed-to-fail-2021-child-nutrition-report. Accessed on 27 May 2024.
Abhishek Singh and Sangram Kishor Patel. Gender differentials in feeding practices, health care utilization and nutritional status of children in Northern India. Int J Hum R Heal C. 2017;10(5):323-31.
Fledderjohann J, Agrawal S, Vellakkal S, Basu S, Campbell O, Doyle P, et al. Do girls have a nutritional disadvantage compared with boys? Statistical models of breastfeeding and food consumption inequalities among Indian siblings. PLoS One. 2014;9:107-72.
Aurino E. Do boys eat better than girls in India? Longitudinal evidence on dietary diversity and food consumption disparities among children and adolescents. Econ Hum Biol. 2017;25:99-111.
Nasreddine L, Chamieh MC, Ayoub J, Hwalla N, Sibai AM, Naja F. Sex disparities in dietary intake across the lifespan: the case of Lebanon. Nutr J. 2020;19:24.
Li H, Kim Y, Park C, Kang M, Kang Y. Gender-common and gender-specific determinants of child dietary diversity in eight Asia Pacific countries. J Glob Health. 2022;12:40-58.
Sen KK, Mallick TS, Bari W. Gender inequality in early initiation of breastfeeding in Bangladesh: a trend analysis. International Breastfeeding Journal. 2020;15:18.
Statistical Institute of Belize and UNICEF Belize 2007. Belize Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey; 2006.
Statistical Institute of Belize and UNICEF Belize 2012. Belize Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey; 2011.
Statistical Institute of Belize and UNICEF Belize 2017. Belize Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey; 2015-201.
FAO, IFAD, PAHO, UNICEF & WFP. 2023. Latin America and the Caribbean – Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2023: Statistics and trends. Santiago. Avialable at https://doi.org/10.4060/cc8514en. Accessed on 27 May 2024.
Planning Institute of Jamaica (The). 2023. Jamaica Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2022, Statistical Snapshots. Kingston, Jamaica: Planning Institute of Jamaica. Avialable at https://www.pioj.gov.jm/ product/the-jamaica-multiple-indicator-cluster-survey-2022-survey-findings-report-the-situation-of-women-and-children/. Accessed on 27 May 2024.
Central Statistical Office, 2023, Trinidad and Tobago Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2022, Survey Findings Report. Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Central Statistical Office. Avialable at https://cso.gov.tt/multiple-indicator-cluster-survey-mics/. Accessed on 27 May 2024.
Government of Guyana and UNICEF. 2021. Guyana Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019-2020, Survey Findings Report. Georgetown, Guyana: UNICEF; 2021.
Thu HN, Eriksson B, Khanh TT, Petzold M, Bondjers G, Kim CNT et al. Breastfeeding practices in urban and rural Vietnam. BMC Public Health. 2012;12(1):964.
Agho KE, Dibley MJ, Odiase JI, Ogbonmwan MS. Determinants of exclusive breastfeeding in Nigeria BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2011;11:2.
Dutta S, Mishra SK, Mehta AK. Gender Discrimination in Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices in India: Evidence from NFHS-4. IJHD. 2022;16(2):286-304.
Ghwass MMA, Ahmed D. Prevalence and predictors of 6-month exclusive breastfeeding in a rural area in Egypt. Breastfeed Med. 2011;6(4):191-6.
Senarath U, Dibley MJ, Agho KE. Breastfeeding practices and associatedfactors among children under 24 months of age in Timor-Leste. Eur J Clin Nutr mars. 2007;61(3):387-9.
Koffi I, Essis EML, Bamba I, Assi KR, Konan LL, Aka J. Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding of children under six months of age in Cote d'Ivoire. Int Breastfeed J. 2023;15;18(1):43.
Belanger D: Son preference in a rural village in North Vietnam. Stud Fam Plan. 2002;33(4):321-34.
Cavalcanti AUA, Boccolini CS. Social inequalities and complementary feeding in Latin America and the Caribbean. Cien Saude Colet. 2022;27(2):619-30.
Acharya D, Subedi R, Lee K, Yoo SJ, Gautam S, Singh JK. Correlates of the timely initiation of complementary feeding among children aged 6-23 months in Rupandehi District, Nepal. Children (Basel). 2018;5(8):106.
Semahegn A, Tesfaye G, Bogale A. Complementary feeding practice of mothers and associated factors in hiwot fana specialized hospital, eastern ethiopia. Pan Afr. Med. J. 2014;18:143.
Kimani-Murage EW, Madise NJ, Fotso JC, Kyobutungi C, Mutua MK, Gitau TM et al. Patterns and determinants of breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices in urban informal settlements, Nairobi Kenya. BMC Public Health. 2011;11:396.
Ng CS, Dibley MJ, Agho KE. Complementary feeding indicators and determinants of poor feeding practices in Indonesia: a secondary analysis of 2007 Demographic and Health Survey data. Public Health Nutr. 2012;15:827-39.
Barbados Statistical Service, ‘Barbados Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2012: Final Report’, BSS, Bridgetown, Barbados; 2014
Larson JB, Castellanos P, Jensen L. Gender, household food security, and dietary diversity in western Honduras. Glob Food Secur. 2019;20:170-9.
Dutta S, Mishra SK, Mehta AK. Gender Discrimination in Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices in India: Evidence from NFHS-4. Ind J Human Dev. 2022;16(2):286-304.
Hughes SO, Power TG, Orlet Fisher J, Mueller S, Nicklas TA. Revisiting a neglected construct: Parenting styles in a child-feeding context. Appetite. 2005;44:83-92.
Shloim N, Edelson LR, Martin N, Hetherington MM. Parenting styles, feeding styles, feeding practices, and weight status in 4-12-year-old children: A systematic review of the literature. Front. Psychol. 2015;6:184.
