Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40312335›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the baby-friendly community initiative and maternal infant and young child nutrition in Kenya.

Antonina Namaemba Mutoro, Milka Wanjohi, Calistus Wilunda, Maureen J Koech, Ajibola Ogunsola, Antuela Tako, Thomas Gyuchan Jun, Patrick Waterson, Paula L Griffiths, Elizabeth Wambui Kimani-Murage

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Antonina Namaemba MutoroAfrican Population and Health Research Center, Aphrc Campus, Manga Cl, Nairobi, Kenya. amutoro@aphrc.org.
Milka WanjohiAfrican Population and Health Research Center, Aphrc Campus, Manga Cl, Nairobi, Kenya.
Calistus WilundaAfrican Population and Health Research Center, Aphrc Campus, Manga Cl, Nairobi, Kenya.
Maureen J KoechAfrican Population and Health Research Center, Aphrc Campus, Manga Cl, Nairobi, Kenya.
Ajibola OgunsolaAfrican Population and Health Research Center, Aphrc Campus, Manga Cl, Nairobi, Kenya.
Antuela TakoLoughborough University, Loughborough, UK.
Thomas Gyuchan JunLoughborough University, Loughborough, UK.
Patrick WatersonLoughborough University, Loughborough, UK.
Paula L GriffithsLoughborough University, Loughborough, UK.
Elizabeth Wambui Kimani-MurageAfrican Population and Health Research Center, Aphrc Campus, Manga Cl, Nairobi, Kenya.

Funding

National Institute for Health and Care Research NIHR130285
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic led to decline in access and utilization of the baby-friendly community initiative (BFCI) which is being implemented in Kenya. The impact of the pandemic on the BFCI and on maternal and child health and nutrition has not been documented. We undertook a qualitative study that assessed the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the baby-friendly community initiative (BFCI) activities, maternal and child health (MCH) services and maternal, infant and young child nutrition (MIYCN) practices in Kenya.

methodsData on the impact of the pandemic on the BFCI activities, provision and access to MCH services and MIYCN practices were collected using key informant interviews (n = 57), in-depth interviews (n = 31), and focus group discussions (n = 15) with government officials, civil society organizations and community members in BFCI implementing and non-implementing urban and rural areas.

resultsOur study found that BFCI activities, such as home visits, support group meetings and MCH services such as nutrition counselling, growth monitoring and vaccination were interrupted by the pandemic due to fear of contracting the virus, lack of personal protective equipment (PPEs) and movement restrictions. This meant that mothers did not have access to basic community and health services. Food insecurity attributed to financial difficulties resulted in coping strategies such as skipping meals and negatively affected MIYCN practices. Positive measures to prevent COVID-19 spread such as remote working enabled some mothers to adequately feed their children because they were better able to balance working and the demands of feeding young children from home.

conclusionOn balance, the pandemic negatively impacted the BFCI, MCH services and MIYCN practices in Kenya. In such a context, there is a need for innovative approaches to ensure continued provision of and access to facilities and community health services in the future if the country finds itself in a similar position with the challenges of a pandemic. The pandemic revealed that remote working support policies could have the potential to improve breastfeeding and complementary feeding for working women but further evidence is needed to fully evaluate this.

Indexed as

COVID-19Health PromotionMaternal-Child Health ServicesBreast FeedingChild, PreschoolFemaleFocus GroupsHealth Services AccessibilityHumansInfantInfant, NewbornKenyaPandemicsQualitative ResearchBaby-friendly community initiativeCOVID-19Maternal and child healthMaternal infant and young child nutrition

Identifiers

PMID40312335
PMCPMC12044784

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.