Infant feeding practices, dietary diversity, and socio-demographic status in rural Eastern Cape, South Africa: a situational analysis

Abstract

Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) is essential for growth and cognitive development. In rural Eastern Cape (South Africa), many infants/young children consume maize from an early age, reducing food security and safety. This baseline report informed the development of a culturally-specific IYCF education program grounded in behaviour-change principles and the Health Belief Model. A cross-sectional study included 178 mother/caregiver and child pairs. A socio-demographic and 24-h dietary recall questionnaire was administered, and anthropometric measurements were taken. Most mothers/caregivers were unmarried, unemployed, and had not completed high school, relying on government grants. Household income was low, with limited access to safe water and sanitation. Stunting (20.9%) and overweight (14%) were prevalent. Exclusive breastfeeding was low (30%), early maize introduction was common (58%), and only 3.7% of children (6–24 months) achieved minimal dietary diversity. Findings indicated the need for culturally specific, behaviour-informed IYCF education to improve feeding practices, food safety, and security.