Smith, TJ 
ORCID: 0000-0001-9543-6461, Mchazime, C, Makaka, P, Ghillia, G ORCID: 0009-0006-6379-7063, Herr, D, Miles, M, Jacobs, C, Williams, S, Mazubane, T, Nabi, ZG et al (show 4 more authors)
(2025)
Psychosocial Predictors of Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices Among Mother-Child Dyads in Malawi and South Africa
Maternal and Child Nutrition, 21 (4).
e70045-.
ISSN 1740-8695, 1740-8709
Abstract
Maternal capacity to adhere to recommended infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices may be influenced by psychosocial factors. However, research examining associations between psychosocial factors and IYCF practices, and in particular complementary feeding indicators, is limited. As part of the Khula birth cohort study, we aimed to investigate associations between maternal depression, exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV), social support and stimulating home environments with IYCF practices among mother-child dyads in Malawi (n = 153) and South Africa (n = 255). When children were 10–16 months of age, mothers completed a series of psychosocial and child diet questionnaires. Regression modelling assessed associations between maternal psychosocial measures and IYCF indicators, adjusting for maternal age, education, marital status and household socioeconomic status. IYCF practices were suboptimal in both settings, with 50%–54% meeting the minimum dietary diversity (MDD), 67%–73% the minimum meal frequency (MMF) and 39%–45% the minimum acceptable diet (MAD) indicators. In South Africa, mothers exposed to IPV in the previous 12 months were less likely to meet the MDD and MAD recommendations (MDD: OR 0.38, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.75; p = 0.006; MAD: OR 0.41, 95% CI: 0.20, 0.85; p = 0.02). There was a significant positive association between stimulation (i.e., more books/toys/play activities) and dietary diversity scores in South Africa. In adjusted analyses, maternal depression and social support were not significantly associated with IYCF indicators in either setting. IYCF programmes may benefit from supporting maternal psychosocial wellbeing and integrating nurturing care to improve children's dietary intakes, growth and development.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | breastfeeding, complementary feeding, dietary diversity, intimate partner violence, low- and middle-income countries, maternal mental health, social support, stimulation practices |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Infection, Vet & Ecological Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 19 May 2025 08:01 |
| Last Modified: | 28 Feb 2026 01:33 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/mcn.70045 |
| Open Access URL: | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/m... |
| Related Websites: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3192803 |
| Disclaimer: | The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate. |
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