Comparative study and impact on nutritional status, dietary practices of normal and moderate acute malnutrition children under 24 months in Niger: case of mayahi county

Background and objectives: Dietary practices play a vital role in the nutritional status of children. In fact, it has been established that inadequate nutrition is one of the direct causes of malnutrition in children. The objective of this work is to make a comparative analysis and study the impact of infant and young child feeding practices on moderate acute malnutrition. Method: Thus, a quantitative survey based on a questionnaire was carried out in two groups of 75 mother-child couples malnourished and normonutris. Results: At the end of this study, it appears that the practice and mode of breastfeeding are identical in both groups (P> 0.05). There is no significant (NS) link between breastfeeding practice and the nutritional status of children. However, we found a statistically significant (P <0.05) relationship between the nutritional status of children and the timing of introduction of complementary foods. In fact, 75% of normonutris children consumed a complementary food from the 6th month against 50% of the children of the malnourished group. It is the same between the weaning practice and the nutritional status of children. The study shows that of the 25 children weaned, 96% (24 children) are in moderate acute malnutrition. Regarding the age of weaning, 12% were weaned before the age of one year and 88% before two years. Weaning was brutal in 36% of children for various reasons (mother-to-child distance, lack of breast milk). Conclusion: At the end of this study, we find that MAM begins with the introduction of complementary foods and continues until weaning in children fewer than 2, compared to normonutris. It is therefore necessary to introduce good dietary practices for a better growth of children.