Study of food consumption habits of children aged 6 to 24 months with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) in MAYAYI department in Niger

Résumé

Nutrition during the first years of life is of special importance both nutritionally and psychologically and socially. Inappropriate infant feeding practices are a factor contributing to malnutrition and these consequences. In order to evaluate mothers' breastfeeding practices and dietary diversification, we carried out a cross-sectional study in the Mayayi department. Our sample consisted of 300 mothers of children aged 6 to 24 months. From the analysis, it appears that all the children in the target group were breastfed. Only 30.3% were breastfed within one hour of birth and 19% exclusively breastfed for up to six months. The average age of introduction of complementary foods is 155, 7 days (5, 19 months) .For dietary diversity, the most consumed food group is the cereal group (99.33%), followed by legumes (78%), then vegetables (61.33%). The least consumed food groups are milk, meat and fish, fruit and in the end the oils with respectively 15.33%, 5.33%, 1.3% and 1.3%. Thus 45.33% of children have a low dietary diversity (SDA 1-2), 52.6% of children have a dietary diversity score of between 2 and 4 food groups (average dietary diversity). Only 2% of children have a high dietary diversity (SDA> 4). In view of the above, training of health personnel on screening and management of malnutrition, regular anthropometric monitoring and nutrition education could be an effective means of preventing malnutrition.