Abstract
Anaemia is a widespread public health problem that affects particularly infants and young children aged from 6 to 24 months. Nutrition has an important role in addressing this condition, and integrated food-based strategies can be adopted to improve complementary feeding (CF) patterns. The objective of this chapter is to evaluate the efficacy of age-specific Food-Based Complementary Feeding Recommendations (FBCFRs) and the long-term effectiveness and feasibility of an in-home fortification - using micronutrient powders (Sprinkles®) - in order to optimize CF and reduce anaemia in infants and young children in two regions of Tajikistan (Khatlon and GBAO). The study was designed as a 12 month pilot trial. Tajik infants (n=209) aged 6-12 months with blood haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations >7 g/dl and <11 g/dl at baseline, were assigned to Group A, which was fed according to the FBCFRs for that age, or to Group B, which was fed according to the FBCFRs but plus Sprinkles. Nutrition education for caretakers was undertaken regularly. Anthropometry, haematological indices, morbidity and dietary recall were assessed at 0, 3, 6 and 12 months. The prevalence of anaemic subjects decreased by 30.0% in Group A and by 47.2% in Group B. Improvements of Hb levels were observed at 3 months (10.16±0.98 g/dl in Group A and 11.32±1.53 g/dl in Group B), and at 12 months (10.8±1.3 g/dl in Group A and 11.0±1.4 g/dl in Group B). In both groups, compliance was generally higher among 12-23 month-old breastfed children. Integrated food-based approaches, supported by behaviour change communication and by strengthening community nutrition knowledge, represent a long-term strategy to improve CF patterns and to address specific micronutrient deficiencies in early life.