Association of infant and young child feeding practices with under-nutrition: evidence from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey.

Background: Childhood undernutrition remains a highly influential risk factor in terms of the global burden of disease. Increasing evidence links infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices to undernutrition. However, the results are inconsistent, and more country-specific studies are needed.Objectives: To determine the associations between IYCF practices and nutritional outcomes among children aged 0–23 months using a nationally representative dataset.Methods: The study used data from the 2011 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, and the data were analysed for children aged 0–23.9 months who had corresponding data for the outcome variables of interest (n = 890). Multiple linear and logistic regressions were undertaken and adjusted for the complex design of the survey, controlling for child, maternal, household and community characteristics.Results: Of the 890 children included in the study, 83% received age-appropriate breastfeeding but only 48% were breastfed within 1 hour of birth. Exclusive breast...