Maternal determinants of optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding and their association with child undernutrition in Malawi (2015–2016)

Table 3 Breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices and their association with stunting, underweight, and wasting in Malawian children, 2015–2016

IYCF Indicators	Age	Stunting	Underweight	Wasting
Early initiation of breastfeeding^a	0–23	0.84 (0.63–1.13)	1.13 (0.73–1.74)	1.05 (0.55–1.98)
Exclusive breastfeeding under six months^b	0–5	1.63 (0.91–2.93)	1.22 (0.47–3.18)	0.37 (0.11–1.41)
Continued breastfeeding at one year^c	12–15	1.95 (0.65–5.87)	0.71 (0.20–2.53)	0.69 (0.08–6.22)
Minimum dietary diversity^d	6–12	0.99 (0.56–1.75)	1.78 (0.86–3.67)	0.96 (0.53–1.74)
Minimum dietary diversity^d	13–23	0.73 (0.49–1.09)	1.08 (0.61–1.88)	1.15 (0.46–2.86)
Minimum meal frequency^e	6–12	1.00 (0.63–1.59)	1.25 (0.67–2.32)	0.94 (0.44–2.05)
Minimum meal frequency^e	13–23	0.86 (0.57–1.30)	0.41 (0.21–0.79)*	1.54 (0.63–3.86)
Minimum acceptable diet^f	6–12	1.06 (0.52–2.16)	1.92 (0.72–5.13)	0.62 (0.16–2.45)
Minimum acceptable diet^f	13–23	0.62 (0.31–1.24)	0.23 (0.08–0.65)*	0.91 (0.24–3.41)
Consumption of iron-rich foods^g	6–12	0.89 (0.34–2.33)	0.98 (0.17–5.54)	1.11 (0.31–4.01)
Consumption of iron-rich foods^g	13–23	1.26 (0.78–2.05)	0.82 (0.40–1.67)	0.51 (0.12–2.24)

Results expressed as adjusted odds ratio AOR (95% Confidence Interval); *p-value < 0.01
Adjusted for clustering, child age, child sex, wealth index, and maternal education
^aChildren born in the last 24 months who were breastfed within 1 hour of birth
^bInfants 0–5 months of age who were fed exclusively with breast milk (no formula or complementary foods) the previous day
^cChildren 12–15 months of age who were fed breastmilk the previous day
^dChildren 6–23 months of age who received foods from 4 or more food groups the previous day
^eBreastfed and non-breastfed children 6–23 months of age who received solid, semi-solid, or soft foods (but also including milk feeds for non-breastfed children) the minimum number of times or more the previous day (Minimum is defined as: 2 times for breastfed infants (6–8 months), 3 times for breastfed children (9–23 months), 4 times for non-breastfed children (6–23 months)
^fBreastfed children 6–23 months of age who had at least the minimum dietary diversity and the minimum meal frequency during the previous day and non-breastfed children 6–23 months of age who received at least 2 milk feedings and had at least the minimum dietary diversity not including milk feeds and the minimum meal frequency
^gChildren 6–23 months of age who receive an iron-rich food or iron-fortified food that is specially designed for infants and young children, or that is fortified in the home the previous day

ISSN: 1471-2458