Effectiveness Assessment of Social Behavioral Change Activities in Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) of the Nutrition Program in the Rohingya Refugee Camps

Dr. Taslima Arzu^1, , Md. Ariful Kabir Sujan², S.M. Symon Bappy³, Vulon Prosad⁴ and Suparna Das Toma⁵

¹Humanitarian worker, Rohingya Response, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

²Nutrition Coordinator, Gonoshasthaya Kendra, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

³Assistant Nutrition Coordinator, Gonoshasthaya Kendra, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

⁴MEAL Manager, Gonoshasthaya Kendra, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

⁵Nutrition Officer (UNV), Nutrition Sector, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Cite this paper:
Dr. Taslima Arzu, Md. Ariful Kabir Sujan, S.M. Symon Bappy, Vulon Prosad and Suparna Das Toma. Effectiveness Assessment of Social Behavioral Change Activities in Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) of the Nutrition Program in the Rohingya Refugee Camps. International Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2025; 9(1):1-5. doi: 10.12691/ijcn-9-1-1

Abstract

Aims: The purposes of the impact assessment for the Social Behaviral Change (SBC) activities in the nutrition program in the Rohingya camps were: to measure the impact of the Social Behavioral Change (SBC) activities to ensure the optimum infant and young child feeding (IYCF), especially on the pregnant and caregiver of under 2 years’ children on IYCF activities and to provide recommendations based on an overall assessment. Study design: The study was designed to review the secondary nutrition program performance data and conduct a cross-sectional study using both quantitative and qualitative data collection to gain deep insight into the impact of the SBC activities on changing the behavior of the target population. Place and Duration of Study: Data was collected in the Rohingya refugee camps, where the forcefully displaced Myanmar nationals were staying and getting nutrition support in Ukhiya of Cox’s Bazar district of Bangladesh. The main data collection took place from 10th October 2024 to 30th October for quantitative data and from 1st November to 6th November 2024 for qualitative data. Methodology: A household survey was conducted to collect quantitative data from the project beneficiaries. This survey was tailored to gather relevant indicators and assess the effectiveness of the interventions. Quantitative data were collected from the beneficiaries through household surveys. We included 250 pregnant and lactating women (PLW) and 250 caregivers of 0-59-month-old children (28 males and 459 females). Qualitative data were obtained through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs-6; 8-10 females per FGD) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs-5; MtMSG members, nutrition and health staff, and participants from cooking demonstrations). Results: A complete package of the SBC approach is essential to breaking the social stigma and barrier targeting the audience through different methods; for example, to improve the Infants and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) indicators by providing IYCF messages through health and nutrition education, group messaging at IYCF corner, community sensitization, meetings, and workshops, mother-to-mother support groups, IYCF counseling from IYCF corner at nutrition facilities as well as health facilities. Complementary feeding cooking demonstration for hands-on learning can change the negative behavior of the targeted audience in a positive direction. In this study, we found that 94.3% of mothers changed one of the negative behaviors related to IYCF in a positive direction. All mothers knew the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, and 83.7% of mothers practiced it properly, which is higher than the exclusive breastfeeding rate of 62.3% (IYCF Survey 2022 by UNICEF-ACF) (11). 68.4% of mothers ensured the minimum dietary diversity of complementary feeding for children 6-23 months, 28.2% in the last IYCF survey by UNICEF-ACF 2022, which came from the complete SBC approach to IYCF practices. Conclusion: This comprehensive study of secondary data review and qualitative findings with validation through the quantitative survey finds that a comprehensive nutrition activity engaging the target population in the SBC activities changes the social stigma and barrier. All mothers who attended the study expressed proper knowledge of IYCF and also emphasized their physical and mental health to ensure proper IYCF practices for children 0-23 months such as exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, starting complementary feeding after six months, and ensuring the minimum dietary diversity to ensure proper nutrition of the young children. This group of mothers can work and support other mothers in the best practices of IYCF and break the social stigma and barriers of IYCF practices.

Keywords:
Behavioral Change Breastfeeding Malnutrition Rohingya Refugee Infant and Young Child Feeding

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References:

[1]	Standardized Extended Nutrition Survey (SENS) 2023, conducted by UNHCR and Concern Worldwide.
[2]	Taslima Arzu, Md. Ariful Kabir Sujan, Dr. Md. Sabir Hossain, "Assessment of Infant and Young Child Feeding Indicators with Special Emphasis on Practices and Knowledge of Mothers in Rural Areas", International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Volume 6 Issue 10, October 2017, pp. 888-891, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=ART20176925.
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