Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
Date Submitted: Apr 30, 2025
Date Accepted: Sep 17, 2025
Effects of maternal utilization of continuum of care on complementary feeding practices in Bangladesh: evidence from two consecutive cross-sectional demographic and health surveys
ABSTRACT
Background:
Continuum of Care (CoC) for maternal health — combining Antenatal Care (ANC), delivery assisted by Skilled Birth Attendants (SBA), and Postnatal Care (PNC) — are platforms to deliver messages and counseling on child feeding practices.
Objective:
We aim to examine the effect of maternal utilization of CoC on complementary feeding practices in Bangladesh.
Methods:
Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2017-18 and BDHS 2022 data were utilized. Observations corresponding to CoC and complementary feeding indicators, i.e. timely Introduction to Solid, Semi-solid, and Soft Foods (ISSSF), Minimum Meal Frequency (MMF), Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD), and Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD) were merged to prepare analyzed samples. The differences in complementary feeding practices by maternal utilization of CoC were observed using chi-squared tests. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to observe the associations.
Results:
A total of 887, 4967, 4967, and 4967 mother-child pairs were included in the analysis for timely ISSSF, MMF, MDD and MAD, respectively. Mothers who received full CoC were 29% and 32% more likely to provide MDD (AOR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.51, p =0.002) and MAD (AOR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.55, p =0.001) than those of their counterparts, respectively. No significant effect of maternal utilization of CoC was observed on timely ISSSF and MMF.
Conclusions:
Maternal utilization of CoC appears to be efficacious in improving MDD and MAD, further highlighting the scopes to amplify the benefits of CoC on timely ISSSF and MMF.
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