Of all proven preventive health and nutrition interventions, IYCF has the single greatest potential impact on child survival. Therefore, reduction of child mortality can be reached only when nutrition in early childhood and IYCF specifically are highly prioritized in national policies and strategies. This window of opportunity to prevent under nutrition is the same period when the recommended infant and young child feeding practices are applied: exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, continued breastfeeding to 2 years or beyond together with adequate, age appropriate complementary feeding from 6 to 23 months. Sub-optimal infant and young child feeding practices during the first 1000 days of life contribute significantly to the problem of undernutrition among children.
Breastfeeding practices in Odisha have historically been better than the national average. Odisha ranks best in the country in composite ranking of Infant and young child feeding practices indicators. Children under age 6 months exclusively breastfed (%) has increased from 65.6 in NFHS 4 to 72.9 in NFHS 5 showing an increase by 7.3 % points where as National average is 63.7. Children age 6-8 months receiving solid or semi-solid food and breastmilk (%) has increased from 54.9 in NFHS 4 to 67.5 in NFHS 5 showing an increase by12.6 % points. Total children age 6-23 months receiving an adequate diet (%) has a significant improvement from 8.5 in NFHS 4 to 20.4 in NFHS 5 whereas the national average is 11.3.
Ensuring a Healthy Start for Every Child
The Women and Child Development (WCD) Department of Odisha is dedicated to promoting optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices, recognizing the critical role they play in the growth, development, and overall health of children. Proper feeding practices during the first two years of life are crucial for laying a strong foundation for a child's future.
Key Practices Promoted by the WCD Department:
- Exclusive Breastfeeding:
- First Six Months: The WCD department advocates for exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, as it provides all the necessary nutrients and antibodies, fostering healthy growth and immunity.
- Breastfeeding Support: Initiatives are in place to support mothers with breastfeeding, ensuring they receive the guidance and encouragement needed to continue this practice.
- Timely Introduction of Complementary Foods:
- At Six Months: Complementary foods should be introduced at six months while continuing breastfeeding. These foods should be nutritious, safe, and appropriate for the child's age.
- Diet Diversity: Emphasis is placed on a diverse diet that includes grains, fruits, vegetables, proteins, and dairy products to meet the evolving nutritional needs of growing children.
- Continued Breastfeeding:
- Up to Two Years and Beyond: The department encourages continued breastfeeding along with complementary feeding up to two years of age and beyond, as it remains a vital source of nutrition and comfort.
- Hygiene and Safe Feeding Practices:
- Food Safety: Proper hygiene and safe food preparation practices are promoted to prevent infections and ensure the well-being of children.
- Handwashing: Parents and caregivers are educated on the importance of handwashing before handling food and feeding children.
Support and Education:
- Community Engagement: Through Anganwadi Centres and community based events under Poshan 2.0 , WCD department conducts regular education and awareness programs on IYCF practices.
- Counseling and Support Groups: Mothers and caregivers have access to counseling services and support groups that offer practical advice and peer support.
- Training of Health Workers: Continuous training programs for Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and other healthcare providers ensure they are equipped with the latest knowledge and skills to support IYCF practices.
Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Regular Assessments: The WCD department conducts regular monitoring and assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of IYCF programs and make necessary improvements.
- Growth Monitoring: Children’s growth is closely monitored to identify and address any nutritional deficiencies or health concerns promptly.
In order to identify gaps in current complementary feeding practices, ProPAN process was initiated in Odisha in seven blocks of Keonjhar, Koraput and Ganjam districts in the year 2015 with support of UNICEF. ProPAN is a set of research tools designed for ministries of health (MoHs) & bilateral and international organizations working to improve the diets and feeding practices of children under 24 months old to prevent early childhood malnutrition. ProPAN guides users through a step-by-step process for identifying problems related to young child nutrition, breastfeeding, and complementary feeding within a specific target population; defining the context in which these problems occur, including barriers to and facilitators of improved or ideal practices; formulating, testing, and selecting behavior-change recommendations and nutritional recipes. Based on the findings a comprehensive package comprising of local food compendium, training guide/handbook, communication and monitoring materials have been developed for improving infant and young child feeding practice of Odisha.
Annaprasan Diwas:
Under Annaprasana Diwas, mothers and families were educated about initiating complementary feeding for infants, emphasizing locally available nutritious foods and ensuring proper transition from breastfeeding to complementary feeding is initiated for all the infants who have completed 6 months of age.
Promote dietary diversity through recipe demonstrations using local ingredients.
By fostering these infant and young child feeding practices, WCD department of Odisha is committed to ensuring that every child has a healthy start in life, paving the way for a brighter and healthier future.
The Local Food compendium can be accessed .
Health Worker Counselling Guide-Eng.
Health Workers counselling Guide-Odia
Handbook for FLWs on community processes-Eng.
Book3-IYCF Training Manual-Odia
