(P17-057-23) Observational Methods in Studies of Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices in Low–And Middle-Income Countries: A Twenty-Year Retrospective Review

Objectives: This narrative review describes the observational approaches used to study infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) published between 2001-2021.

Methods: Inclusion criteria for the narrative review were 1) original peer-reviewed article published in English in PubMed and Web of Science; 2) published between January 1, 2001 – December 31, 2021; 3) conducted in a LMIC; and 4) employed observations and focused on IYCF practices among children aged 6 – 59 months.

Results: Studies (n = 51) revealed wide-ranging applications of direct meal and full-day observations, as well as indirect spot checks, to study IYCF. Meal. Meal observations were typically conducted during a midday meal using precise recording approaches such as video and aimed to understand child-caregiver interactions or specialized nutritious food (SNF) usage. Full day. Full-day observations lasted between 6 – 12 hours using a field notes-based recording approach. Behaviors occurring outside of mealtime, such as snacking or inter-household food sharing, were a primary focus. Spot checks. Finally, spot checks were employed to indirectly study SNF compliance during announced or unannounced visits across settings.

Conclusions: Many reviewed studies used observations to understand behaviors during feeding trials. However, this review has also highlighted their adaptability across contexts and potential as a feasible method for monitoring and evaluating public health nutrition programs.

Funding Sources: N/A