Background: Adequate infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices are essential for optimal child growth. This study investigated IYCF practices in Vietnam, and their associations with demographic, socioeconomic and nutritional status.
Methods: 2,039 Vietnamese infants aged 6-23 months from the nationally representative General Nutrition Survey 2020 were analysed. Associations between IYCF indicators and the outcome variables were assessed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions.
Findings: Prevalence of stunting, underweight, and overweight was 10·9%, 5·6%, and 3·1%, respectively. Low serum zinc affected 56·7% of infants. Prevalence of low serum retinol, anaemia, and iron deficiency (ID) was 14·3%, 31·2%, and 34·6%, respectively. Only 36·7% and 29·0% of infants achieved minimum dietary diversity (MDD) and minimum acceptable diet (MAD), respectively. Regression analyses indicated that infants from younger age group (6-11 months), ethnic minorities, living in rural/mountainous regions, and poorer wealth quintiles had reduced odds of meeting MDD, and MAD. Infants meeting MDD had reduced odds of stunting [adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence intervals): 0·61 (0·41, 0·92)], and ID [0·69 (0·54, 0·88)]. Infants meeting MAD had reduced odds of anaemia [0·72 (0·57, 0·91)], ID [0·66 (0·52, 0·84)], and low serum retinol [0·63 (0·41, 0·99)]. Continued breastfeeding (12-23 months) reduced the odds of being underweight [0·50 (0·27, 0·92)], and having low serum zinc [0·70 (0·52, 0·96)]. Adequate minimum milk feeding frequency was associated with increased odds of overweight [3·33 (1·01, 11·09)].
Interpretation: Suboptimal IYCF practices were significant predictors of poor nutritional status among Vietnamese infants, with age-specific, geographical and socioeconomic disparities evident.
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)