Nutrition and growth in the first three years of life predict adult stature and some health outcomes. Between 4 to 24 months of age, the major risk period of growth stunting or impaired linear growth happens. Thus, it is crucial to identify nutrient deficiencies at this age to promptly address them and prevent lasting adverse effects on growth and development. Furthermore, early nutrition plays an important role in the origin of adult disease such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and the metabolic syndrome. (Parks, et.al, 2016)
Thus, appropriate feeding practices need to be established in the neonatal period and continued to childhood and adolescence to adulthood. Appropriate and healthy feeding among children therefore requires partnerships between family members, the health care system, schools and community and government.
Out of the total mothers surveyed in barangay Venus, 50%
(15 out of 30) did not practice exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months
with their infants. Forty-three percent (13 out of 30) stopped breastfeeding
their children before the age of 2 years old. Furthermore, all surveyed
pregnant women (9) plan to breastfeed their infants after giving birth.
Seventy-eight percent (7 out of 9) of pregnant women do not know for how long
they should breastfeed their child.
Seventy-eight percent (7 out of 9) also plan to give complementary
feeding at 6 months of age. Eighty-nine percent (8 out of 9) do not know what
the term exclusive breastfeeding means.
In this activity, video infomercials are employed to
educate mothers on the importance of breastfeeding and proper positions in
breastfeeding. This was done to promote exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months,
start proper complementary feeding at 6 months and continue breastfeeding until
2 years of age. This also aimed to determine the barriers that mothers
encounter on proper breastfeeding practices with the attempt to help provide
valuable facts and correct common misconceptions.
“Breastfeeding TSEK” (Tama, Sapat, EKslusibo) video was
employed in this activity. “Tama” means immediate and appropriate breastfeeding
within one hour after birth; “Sapat” pertains to mother’s milk is sufficient in
nutrients and quantity for the baby up to 6 months of age; and “EKsklusibo”
refers to exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, just pure mother’s milk only,
not even water.
Proper breastfeeding practices aimed to improve the
nutritional status of children in barangay Venus! Daghang salamat sa suporta
gikan sa atuang mga abtik na nanay!
