Peer-reviewed article
Use of Mobile Health in Infant and Young Child Nutrition: A Formative Study in Rural Maharashtra
Samreen Sadaf Khan, Archana A. Patel, Amrita Puranik, Priyanka Kuhite, Yamini Vinod Pusdekar et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study explored whether mobile phones could be used to improve infant and young child feeding practices in rural Maharashtra, India, where undernutrition affects a large proportion of young children. Researchers conducted interviews and focus groups with caregivers to understand their feeding practices, beliefs, and openness to receiving nutrition advice via mobile phone. The study found that rural households have access to mobile phones with good network connectivity, and that caregivers would accept mobile-based counselling if the advice was affordable and matched their cultural beliefs and economic circumstances.
Key points
- Approximately 41% of under-5 children in India are stunted and 21% are wasted
- Poor infant and young child feeding practices are driven mainly by parental and caregiver beliefs and knowledge
- Rural households in the study area have at least one mobile phone with good network connectivity
- Mobile phone counselling for infant feeding was acceptable to the community
- Advice needs to be affordable, culturally tailored, and appropriate to socio-economic status to be accepted
Limitations
This is a formative study describing feasibility and acceptability rather than testing the effectiveness of a mobile health intervention. The findings are specific to rural Maharashtra and may not generalise to other regions of India or other countries.
Abstract
Undernutrition is a major public health problem for under 5 years of age children in India. Approximately 41% and 21% of under 5 years of age children are stunted and wasted respectively. Despite the known importance of age appropriate infant and young child feeding practices for child nutrition, the rates of these practices remain poor in India. The major determinants for inappropriate IYCF practices are beliefs and knowledge of parents and caregivers. These can be effectively addressed through counselling by mobile Health technology as mobile phones are widely available and have a high penetration across the country. This formative research explored the perceptions of caregivers regarding infant feeding practices, feasibility of mobile phone for counselling and targeted messaging to mothers on appropriate infant feeding. We conducted in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The data were translated, transcribed and analysed using a thematic approach. We found that rural households have at least one mobile phone with good network connectivity. Utilizing mobile phones for counselling was found to be acceptable in the community, provided that the advice given is affordable, tailored to their cultural beliefs and socio-economic status.