Towards Improving Child Feeding Practices for Optimal Nutrition Outcomes in Burkina Faso

Background: Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices are a critical factor in improving child nutrition. Methods: This study was conducted to document the promotion of optimal child feeding practices in the North and Central Plateau regions in Burkina Faso. Data were collected through a review of available program data, field visits and interviews with key stakeholders involved in the process. Results: A participatory approach was used to promote feeding practices in the two target regions. Interventions were delivered both at community level and through the health system. A mother-focused life cycle approach was used to deliver IYCF interventions at community level. The use of a participatory approach to scale up IYCF interventions fostered ownership and sustainability of the program. The development of a number of monitoring tools allowed the generation of real-time data about the program. In less than two years, the program reached 38,307 pregnant women and 63,955 mothers of children under two years of age with IYCF services in the Central Plateau region and 33,500 pregnant women and 67,200 mothers of children under two years of age in the North region. Despite this, much remains to be done to develop a full-fledged multi-sectoral system for addressing stunting in the two regions. Conclusion: Our data indicate that IYCF interventions were successfully developed and improved in two regions of Burkina Faso. Efforts should be made to accelerate the implementation of a comprehensive multi-sectoral package for addressing stunting in the two regions and also in the other regions of Burkina Faso.