Analysis of Child Feeding and Care Practices in Certain Area

Analysis of Child Feeding and Care Practices in Certain Area INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD FEEDING AND CARE PRACTICES OF CAREGIVERS IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBAY, PHILIPPINES Joyce Louise Cruz Ignacio, RND Registered Nutritionist-Dietitian Summary of the present status of the study Description of the status of the research work The study has two basic objectives: 1) To assess the caregivers’ current Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) and care practices; and 2) To assess the nutritional status of the 0-24 month-old children in the province of Albay. As stated in the proposal, the study is composed of two phases. phase executed the process to meet the first objective of the study, whereas the second phase involved a carefully-designed capacity-building program for the community health and nutrition workers. The survey component of Phase 1 was conducted in the province of Albay from March 2014 to June 2014. It covered six of Albay’s municipalities Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Oas, Libon, Malilipot, and Tiwi and three of its component cities Legazpi, Ligao and Tabaco – altogether creating a scope of 24 different barangays. 280 caregivers, all of whom were randomly selected via systematic sampling, participated in a two-day survey that used a pretested questionnaire to obtain the household and caregivers’ socio-economic and demographic information. That information included age, educational attainment, occupation, household income, household size and their hygiene and sanitation practices. Also recorded about infants and young children were their participation in health and nutrition programs, their access to health and medical services (e.g. immunization, deworming, micronutrient supplementation), their two non-consecutive 24-hour food recalls, the frequency and duration of their breastfeeding sessions, and their anthropometric measurements that were taken using a calibrated salter weighing scale and head board. Furthermore, six (6) Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), three for disaster-prone areas and three for non-disaster-prone areas in Albay, were conducted using a structured set of questions as a guide. Topics included in the FGDs were generally focused on the IYCF and care practices and their coping mechanisms during emergencies. Phase 1 of the study, now in its final component, is undergoing analysis of the following variables: socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the households and caregivers, hygiene and sanitation practices, participation in health and nutrition programs, access to health services, and dietary intake of children. It also evaluated their relationship with each other, and their impact on both existing IYCF and care practices and the nutritional status of 0-24 month-old children in the community. Respondents who either failed to complete the two-day data collection or have incomplete data and/or answers to the questionnaires administered will be excluded from the analysis of the study. The results of Phase 1 will serve as the empirical basis for the planning and implementation of Phase 2. Phase 2, the capacity-building component of the project, will render substantial inputs for the local government of Albay. This will not only aid in their development of appropriate programs, b ut also, through the advocacy of proper IYCF and care practices of caregivers, facilitate interventions on malnutrition in young children. The National Nutrition Council in the Bicol region (NNC-Bicol) and the local government of Albay have expressed great support and enthusiasm in the study. During the development of the study, they provided substantial insights and suggestions, all of which were incorporated in the final design of the study. They also helped in the planning and implementation of the data collection in the field. They directed me in the proper channels which made the facilitation of the data collection more effective and efficient. NNC-Bicol and the local government of Albay are continuously providing all the necessary assistance that will help in better understanding and analyzing gathered data. They have also been very committed all throughout the project and worked closely with me during the capacity building phase of my study. As originally proposed, the capacity building component of this study will supplement the existing guidelines and recommendations of the local government in Albay. Based on the initial communication with the regional and provincial nutrition office, there were several training sessions for the community health and nutrition workers, all of which focused on IYCF. However, there is a high turnover rate of community health and nutrition workers which can be attributed to several factors: 1) Community health and nutrition workers serve as volunteers so they spend a lot of their time with the community; 2) They have no salaries since the source of funds is unsustainable, and the idea of it destroys the spirit of volunteerism; and 3) Community health and nutrition workers, though mandated by law to be non-partisan, tend to be affiliated to specific political parties, which is why their posts may be filled by other volunteers when there are changes in political leadership in the community. Yet despite their selflessness in service, they are often taken for granted and underappreciated which lead them to leave their posts. High turnover rates of community health and nutrition workers often lead to the disruption of the co-worker’s relationships with the community and each other. When these workers leave their posts, the opportunity to build on their experience and further develop their skills through refresher training is lost. Due to these circumstances, the recommended course of action is to have a consultative meeting with the key persons in Albay in order to address the problem in sustaining said workers. However, realigning the concept and purpose of community health and nutrition workers is necessary before conducting any form of training. A strategic and concrete plan of action is also needed to answer questions hindering the sustainability of community health and nutrition workers. These may include about the most efficient way to monitor these workers, how turnover rates can successfully be reduced, and what incentive system should be used to ensure that community health and nutrition workers are properly motivated. Furthermore, training and retraining are recommended for the health and nutrition workers of the barangays covered in Phase 1. Continuous training has been known to be an essential prerequisite in effective community health and nutrition work, and is an important factor in retaining the motivation of workers. This latter part is crucial, especially in light of the short training periods available and the low levels of education of most workers. Retraining allows them to learn and develop new skills, take on new challenges, and interact with peers, keeping the job interesting as well as promoting personal development. Upon completion of Phase 1, strengths and weaknesses of the current IYCF will be identified, and incorporating findings of the study in the capacity building component can further strengthen the technical capacity of health and nutrition workers in the community. Firsthand knowledge and experience on the field will make them more equipped in planning, service delivery, and monitoring of existing IYCF programs. Publications No publication has been published based from this research study. Upon the completion of the project, I intend to submit a scientific journal article to publishers with international reputation for greater reach. Summary of the expenses during the report period Summary of the financial statement from the Administrative Offices of the University / Institution Enclosed in this first intermediary report is the Financial Statement as of August 22, 2014 from the University of the Philippines Los Banos Foundation, Inc. (UPLBFI, Inc.), which is certified corrected by the Accounting Supervisor Ms. Marilou C. Atanante and signed by Dr. Cecilio R. Arboleda, Director of UPLBFI, Inc. Gross salaries Breakdown of positions and salaries for the report period Breakdown of major equipment for the report period Breakdown of operating expenses during the report period 4.6 Breakdown of travel expenses for the report period Cont. 4.6 Breakdown of travel expenses for the report period Summary of budget for the report period (In the preferred currency and US $ for the total) GRAND TOTAL: PhP 425,658.19 / US $ 10,134.71 Intermediary to the Nestlà © Foundationpage 1