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African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development
Rural Outreach Program
ISSN: 1684-5358 EISSN: 1684-5358
Vol. 18, No. 3, 2018, pp. 13702-13716
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Bioline Code: nd18060
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2018, pp. 13702-13716
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EFFECT OF PATERNAL EDUCATION ABOUT COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING OF INFANTS IN KISUMU COUNTY, KENYA
Dinga, LA; Kiage, BN & Kyallo, FM
Abstract
Improved health of infants is dependent on the supportive role of the fathers. There is
limited research done in Kenya on father involvement and how it affects feeding
practices of the infant. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact on
complementary feeding practice of nutrition education targeted to the father. A
randomized control trial was conducted with 290 father-mother pairs recruited into the
study. The mothers, who were six months pregnant and receiving antenatal services at
Kisumu County Hospital, provided the contact point for recruitment of the fathers who
were engaged in this study. The consenting mothers provided information of the
‘expectant father’ who were later contacted and invited to go to the hospital together
with the mother. Consent was obtained from the study participants in a written form.
Randomization was done to the father-mother pairs and eventually, each group had 145
pairs. The pairs in the intervention group were educated on complementary feeding
while the other pairs in the control group did not get any intervention. Post-natal,
feeding on solids and semi-solids of the infants were assessed at six months and at nine
months of age. Qualitative assessment through focus group discussions were done to
obtain information on fathers’ support towards complementary feeding. Overall
analysis was done on 278 pairs with 12 lost to follow up. Introduction to solids and
semi-solids had been done by a majority (96.7%) by six months of the infant’s age in
both groups. Solid and semi-solid foods were introduced significantly earlier in the
control group and compared to the intervention group (chi-square test; p<0.01).
Minimum acceptable diet was significantly higher in the intervention group than the
control group (chi-square test; p<0.01). In conclusion, giving fathers information on
complementary feeding influences their support towards infant feeding, resulting in
positive outcomes in complementary feeding practices.
Keywords
Father; Involvement; Infant; Complementary feeding; Nutrition Education; Kisumu; Kenya
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