The WHO has urged member states to develop preparedness plans for infant and young child feeding (IYCF) during emergencies. Ireland has no such plan. We aimed to identify the needs of caregivers in Ireland with regards IYCF during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Online survey conducted in May–June 2020.

Ireland, during the first period of severely restricted movement due to COVID-19 (lockdown).

Respondents (n 745) were primary caregivers of a child under 2 years; they were primarily well educated and likely of higher socio-economic status.

Among those who breastfed, being unable to access breast-feeding support groups and being unable to access in-person, one-to-one breast-feeding assistance were the biggest challenges reported. Nearly three quarters of those who had their babies during lockdown reported these challenges: 72·8 % and 68·8 %, respectively. For those using formula, the main challenges were structural in nature; approximately two-thirds of those who had their baby prior to lockdown feared there would be formula shortages and a third were unable to purchase formula due to shortages.

Regardless of how their babies were fed, parents in Ireland experienced multiple challenges with infant feeding during the COVID-19 crisis. Breast-feeding should be protected, supported and promoted, particularly during an infectious disease pandemic. Additionally, assurances around supply of infant formula could reduce parental stress during a pandemic or emergency. An IYCF in emergencies plan would clearly set out how we could best support and protect the nutrition of the most vulnerable members of our population.

A randomised controlled trial found no evidence of an impact of a blog written by a registered dietitian (RD) on vegetables and fruit and milk and alternatives (e.g. soya-based beverages, yogurt and cheese) consumption – two food groups included in the 2007 version of the Canadian Food Guide – in mothers and their children compared with a control condition. To investigate these null findings, the current study explored participants’ perceptions of engagement with the blog and its influence on their dietary behaviours.

Mixed methods process evaluation using a post-intervention satisfaction questionnaire and a content analysis of mothers’ comments on the blog (n 213 comments).

French-speaking adult mothers living in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada (n 26; response rate = 61·9 % of the total sample randomised to exposure to the blog).

Most mothers (n 20/26; 76·9 %) perceived the blog useful to improve their dietary habits – with the most appreciated blog features being nutritional information and healthy recipes and interactions with fellow participants and the RD. Mothers reported several facilitators (e.g. meal planning and involving children in household food activities) and few barriers (e.g. lack of time and children’s food preferences) to maternal and child consumption of vegetables and fruit and milk and alternatives. Lack of time was the principal reported barrier affecting blog engagement.

The findings from the current study suggest that blogs written by an RD may be an acceptable format of intervention delivery among mothers, but may not alleviate all the barriers to healthy eating and engagement in a dietary intervention.

To explore the influence of obstetrical care factors on dietary diversity and individual food group consumption in Indonesia.

Cross-sectional study to assess the association between pregnancy care factors and dietary diversity score, minimum dietary diversity (MDD) and consumption of seven food groups.

Data from the Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey 2017.

A total of 5113 children aged 6–23 months.

Dietary diversity score was significantly higher for children whose mothers received four or more prenatal care visits, were delivered at a health facility, had a professionally trained delivery assistant and were delivered by C-section. Children born at a health facility and delivered by a health professional had higher odds of meeting MDD (adjusted OR (AOR) 1·45, 95 % CI 1·18, 1·79 and OR 2·10, 95 % CI 1·54, 2·87, respectively). Four or more antenatal visits, delivering at a health facility and having a professional delivery attendant were associated with higher odds of consumption of lentils (AOR 1·66, 95 % CI 1·23, 2·25, AOR 1·30, 95 % CI 1·02, 1·65 and AOR 1·79, 95 % CI 1·19, 2·69). Four or more antenatal visits, delivering at a health facility and having a professional delivery attendant had higher odds of consumption of other fruits and vegetables (AOR 1·70, 95 % CI 1·23, 2·35, OR 1·23, 95 % CI 1·03, 1·61 and OR 1·90, 95 % CI 1·29, 2·79).

Efforts focusing on providing nutritional education during antenatal care and delivery should be encouraged, especially for mothers seeking care outside of a health facility.

To explore and gain an in-depth understanding of the factors influencing child feeding practices among rural caregivers in Rwanda.

In-depth semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and coded. Data were analysed inductively using thematic analysis.

Rutsiro District, Western Province, Rwanda.

Participants included twenty-four mothers (median age 32 years) with children 6–23 months old.

We identified five key themes: (i) breast-feeding practices and role in food supply; (ii) family v. children’s food preparations; (iii) food classification systems and their influence on child feeding decisions; (iv) child feeding during diarrhoeal episodes and (v) influence of poverty on child feeding practices and child care.

Mothers’ infant and young child feeding decisions are informed by information both from health workers and from traditional/own knowledge. Navigating through this information sometimes creates conflicts which results in less than optimal child feeding. A nutrition educational approach that is cognisant of maternal perceptions should be employed to improve child feeding practices. Efforts to improve child feeding practices must be complemented by programmes that enhance household economic opportunities and access to foods.

To characterize the epidemiology of wasting and identify the main predictors of wasting, severe wasting and poor weight-for-height in children.

We analysed a nationally representative sample of 2028 children (Multiple Indicator Survey, 2010).

Royal Kingdom of Bhutan.

Children aged 0–23 months.

Wasting prevalence was significantly higher among infants aged 0–11 months than among children aged 12–23 months (12·0 v. 6·7 %; P=0·004) and among boys than girls (11·0 v. 7·5 %; P=0·04). Children from the Western region had 63 % higher odds of being wasted than children from the Central/Eastern regions (adjusted OR (AOR)=1·63; 95 % CI 1·14, 2·34). Poor feeding practices were among the most significant predictors of wasting and severe wasting. Children who were given prelacteal feeds in the first days of life had 2·5 times higher odds of being severely wasted than those who were not (AOR=2·49; 95 % CI 1·19, 5·19); inadequate complementary feeding in children aged 0–23 months was associated with 58 % higher odds of being wasted (AOR=1·58; 95 % CI 1·02, 2·47) and 2·3 times higher odds of being severely wasted (AOR=2·28; 95 % CI 1·13, 4·58). The association of poor infant feeding practices with wasting and severe wasting was particularly significant in infants (0–11 months).

Programmes for the detection and treatment of severely wasted children need to prioritize very young children (0–11 months), particularly in the Western region. Programmes for the prevention of wasting need to prioritize the improvement of complementary foods and feeding practices in children aged 6–23 months.

Nutrition-related disorders, including vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and chronic diseases, are serious problems in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Many suggest that these disorders are new problems related to dietary and lifestyle changes. In the past four decades, imported foods, such as white rice, flour, sugar, refined foods and fatty meats, have increasingly replaced local foods in the diet.

A literature review was conducted to understand underlying issues related to dietary change and obtain insights for nutrition research and interventions.

Published and unpublished papers from different disciplines were reviewed and collated for information on food and nutrition in FSM. Topics covered were historical background, local foods, infant and child feeding, dietary assessment, and nutritional status. Particular focus was on information and data relating to VAD, the primary topic that led to the review of the literature.

FSM, a tropical country of abundant agricultural resources, has suffered a great loss in production and consumption of local foods. Inconsistent external and internal government policies and food aid programmes have contributed to the problem. Further research on the nutrient content of local foods and factors affecting production, acquisition and consumption is needed, as well as a broad, well-planned, intersectoral intervention aimed at dietary improvement for all age groups in the population.