Page 1 of 12
European Journal of Applied Sciences – Vol. 10, No. 5
Publication Date: October 25, 2022
DOI:10.14738/aivp.105.12794. Mouroufie, A. K. J., Aka, F. B. A., Kouakou, F. K., Coulibaly, N. D., Kati-Coulibaly, S., Faye-Kette, H., Bosson, Y. V. E., & Djaman, L. Y.
P. (2022). Nutritional Status and Early Food Diversification in Infants Aged 200 Days in Three Municipalities of Abidjan. European
Journal of Applied Sciences, 10(5). 15-26.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Nutritional Status and Early Food Diversification in Infants Aged
200 Days in Three Municipalities of Abidjan
Mouroufie A. K. J.
Laboratory of Biology and Heath, Faculty of Biosciences
University Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Abidjan
Ivory Coast 22 B.P. 582 Abidjan 22, Ivory Coast
Pasteur Institute of Cote d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Aka F. B. A.
Laboratory of Biology and Heath, Faculty of Biosciences
University Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Abidjan
Ivory Coast 22 B.P. 582 Abidjan 22, Ivory Coast
Kouakou F. K.
Anthropology Society of Paris (SAP), France
Littoraux Seas Food Security (LIMERSAT), UFR Humanities and Society
Institute of Tropical Geography, University Felix
Houphouet-Boigny, Ivory Coast
Laboratory of Biomorphology and Physical Anthropology
UFR SHS and UFR Odontostomatologie
Felix Houphouet-Boigny University (UFHB), Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Coulibaly N. D.
Laboratory of Biology and Heath, Faculty of Biosciences
University Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Abidjan
Ivory Coast 22 B.P. 582 Abidjan 22, Ivory Coast
Pasteur Institute of Cote d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Kati-Coulibaly S.
Laboratory of Biology and Heath, Faculty of Biosciences
University Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Abidjan
Ivory Coast 22 B.P. 582 Abidjan 22, Ivory Coast
Faye-Kette H.
Laboratory of Biology and Heath, Faculty of Biosciences
University Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Abidjan
Ivory Coast 22 B.P. 582 Abidjan 22, Ivory Coast
Pasteur Institute of Cote d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Bosson Y. V. E.
Laboratory of Biology and Heath, Faculty of Biosciences
University Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Abidjan
Page 2 of 12
16
European Journal of Applied Sciences (EJAS) Vol. 10, Issue 5, October-2022
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Ivory Coast 22 B.P. 582 Abidjan 22, Ivory Coast
Djaman L. Y. P.
Laboratory of Biology and Heath, Faculty of Biosciences
University Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Abidjan
Ivory Coast 22 B.P. 582 Abidjan 22, Ivory Coast
ABSTRACT
It appears from this study that certain socio-demographic parameters influence the
nutritional status of infants. The early introduction of foods greatly affects the
nutritional status of children. For each manifestation of malnutrition, the
prevalence is high among infants living in low socioeconomic households to infants
in well-to-do households. This study shows that the majority of mothers are aged
from 20 to 29 and 34% are pupils or students. Among them, 50% live in households
with a high standard of living. Despite advice and recommendations on the practice
of exclusive breastfeeding, 60% of infants started early food diversification
between 0-119 days. The Height-for-Age (H/A) study indicates that among infants
21.6% have at-risk nutritional status, while 6.4% are stunted. The present study
also indicates at the Weight/Height (W/T) level that among infants 26.9% have a
nutritional status at risk and 3.3% are wasted. Regarding the weight-for-age (W/A)
parameter, it appears that the proportion of children with a nutritional status at
risk is 33.3% and 10.7% underweight. All infants who received early
complementary foods are at risk of malnutrition.
Keywords: malnutrition, early food, diversification, Abidjan
INTRODUCTION
The first two years of a child's life are particularly important, as adequate nutrition during this
period will improve health, reduce the risk of disease, and contribute to better overall
development [1].
The World Health Organization (WHO) recalls in 2015 that infant and young child feeding is
essential to improve child survival and promote child growth [1].
Thus, during the first 6 months of life, no other food apart from breast milk is necessary for the
infant. Indeed, it is only from the age of 6 months that infants should begin food diversification
according to the recommendations of international organizations such as WHO and UNICEF.
In addition, from this age, the child's digestive system reaches the maturity necessary for the
digestion of the first foods other than breast milk, which is no longer sufficiently rich in energy,
proteins, zinc, iron, trace elements and fat-soluble vitamins A and D to ensure good infant
nutrition [2].
In contrast, deaths of infants and young children occur due to inappropriate feeding practices
and infectious diseases, two-thirds (2/3) of which are attributable to inadequate breastfeeding
practices. Inadequate breastfeeding is the cause of approximately 1.4 million child deaths
worldwide [3].
Page 3 of 12
17
Mouroufie, A. K. J., Aka, F. B. A., Kouakou, F. K., Coulibaly, N. D., Kati-Coulibaly, S., Faye-Kette, H., Bosson, Y. V. E., & Djaman, L. Y. P. (2022).
Nutritional Status and Early Food Diversification in Infants Aged 200 Days in Three Municipalities of Abidjan. European Journal of Applied Sciences,
10(5). 15-26.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.105.12794
In developing countries, feeding practices are very often inadequate and incompatible with the
recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). They are the main factors that
impair the physical growth and mental development of children [4]. Early diversification is
sometimes a consequence of insufficient breastfeeding with the risk of infant malnutrition. Côte
d'Ivoire is not on the sidelines of bad food practices.
According to the recent Multiple Indicator Survey (MICS), at the national level, the percentage
of infants aged zero (0) to six (6) months exclusively breastfed is 23.5% and 19.1% in the city
of Abidjan [5]. Despite the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and the recommendation made
by the World Health Organization, its practice by mothers remains insufficient.
Breast milk is the most suitable exclusive food for infants in the first six (6) months of life due
to its nutritional and metabolic qualities and the role it plays in the prevention of various
pathologies.
Many studies in Côte d'Ivoire report the early introduction of food diversification, from the age
of three (3) months.
In the District of Abidjan, about 66% of children from zero (0) to three (3) months receive food
other than breast milk early [6-7]. Generally, these feeding practices associated with repeated
infections lead to malnutrition in infants [4].
However, there are very few data on the nutritional status of infants who started early dietary
diversification. Hence the interest of this work, the general objective of which is to assess the
impact of early dietary diversification of foods on the nutritional status of infants during the
first 200 days of life.
Target population
This study concerned a sample of 426 mother-child couples distributed in three (3) communes
of the District of Abidjan (Abobo, Cocody, and Marcory). These mother-child couples came for
pediatric consultation or for vaccination with children whose age varies from zero (0) to six (6)
months received on working days between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., in the various health centers of
the municipalities concerned. Children were recruited during visits to mothers for vaccination
and/or consultation sessions. Data collection began once informed consent was obtained. The
children surveyed in this study are chosen according to their state of health and with the
agreement and consent of their parents.
Inclusion criteria
The choice was made for nursing mothers with babies whose age is between zero (0) and two
hundred (200) days of maximum life. Being on one of the diets which are: LM+DA: Breast Milk
Diet + Food Diversification; LA+DA: Artificial Milk Diet + Food Diversification and LM+LA+DA:
Breast Milk + Artificial Milk Diet + Food Diversification. The sample concerned all the children
received in consultation, on working days between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., and in good health.