eng Science and Education Publishing American Journal of Food and Nutrition 2374-1163 2023-04-21 11 2 34 39 10.12691/ajfn-11-2-1 AJFN20231121 article Coulibaly Nadine Mireille Josepha Danielle coulibalynadine@gmail.com 1 Ouedraogo Cesaire Tania 1 2 Zeba Augustin Nawidimbasba 2 Sorgho Hermann 3 Somda Manituo Aymard Serge 4 5 Ouedraogo Jean-Bosco 5 6 Laboratoire de Recherche- Sant¨¦ Publique et Nutrition, Institut de Recherche en Science de la Sant¨¦, Burkina Faso Laboratoire de Recherche- Maladies Infectieuses et Parasitologie, Institut de Recherche en Science de la Sant¨¦, Burkina Faso Centre de Calcul, Centre Muraz, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso Knowledge of infant feeding practices is important for developing strategies that can help to improve infant nutrition. In this work, we described breastfeeding practice in a rural community in Burkina Faso. We followed forty-six mothers who agreed to exclusively breastfeed their babies up to 6 months. Anthropometry was used to assess the infants¡¯ nutrition status and the deuterium oxide dose-to-mother technique applied to estimate the babies¡¯ breastmilk intake (BM) and non-milk oral water intake (non-BM). We found out malnutrition was present during all the follow-up, with a high rate of wasting at the first month (18.6%) and also at 6 months (22.7%). The BM intake increased significantly (p=0.0000) from 570.0 ± 205.7 g/day at birth month to 848.5 ± 175.6 g/day at 2-3 months and reached the maximum of 923.1 ± 184.2 g/day at 4-5 months. Non-BM consumption was minimal at 4-5 months (9.5 ± 67.4 g/day) and maximal at 6 months (187.5 ± 191.6 g/day). Looking at the cross-sectional measurements, the exclusive breastfeeding practice (EBF) was optimal at 4-5 months (88.4% (95% CI:78.8-98.0), n=43) but the longitudinal evaluation since birth revealed that this rate was significantly lower (55.0% (95% CI: 39.6-70.4), n=40, p=0.0007). The study showed there was a hidden inadequate practice of EBF up to 6 months, contrary to the commitment and report of the mothers. Our results will supplement the existing information on breastfeeding practices in the country. http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajfn/11/2/1/ajfn-11-2-1.pdf infant nutrition breastmilk intake exclusive breastfeeding deuterium oxide dose-to-mother technique