Somali Knowledge Attitude Practices Study (KAPS) - EthnoMed

EBF means feeding children on breast milk and water and sugar for 3-6 months without giving
solid foods. Among the agro-pastoralists, it was reported that a few mothers exclusively
breastfeed for 1-4 months although animal milk and water are introduced at birth as well. This
therefore implies that among the agro-pastoralists, EBF means giving infants breast milk, animal
milk and water only without soft or solid foods. In urban areas a few mothers, (15-20% from
Hiran), reportedly exclusively breastfeed for 4-6 months. This was attributed to the breastfeeding
awareness during the World Breastfeeding Week celebrations which changed women’s attitude
towards EBF.
Frequency: In all livelihood zones, reports indicate that children breast feed on demand, so long
as the mother is available and the child can access the breast. Maternal workload and situations
where mothers have to be away from home for long hours in the farms or market were reported as
the major obstacle to frequency of breastfeeding. In the riverine, and agro-pastoral communities it
was reported that when mothers are often busy in the farms or in the market, children are
breastfed less times compared to when the mother is at or near home.
Continued Breastfeeding with Complementary food:
Breastfeeding continues alongside complementary feeding until the time the child is completely
removed from the breast when the mother gets pregnant or when the child is about 2 years old.
Breast milk alone is believed to be inadequate for the child, hence, even before the soft or solid
foods are introduced; cow/goat milk, water and porridge are fed to the children alongside
breastfeeding.
Total Duration of Breastfeeding:
The study found that the total duration of breast feeding for children range from 1 year to 3 years
among the pastoralists and agro-pastoralists. Among the riverine and urban communities,
however, the duration of breastfeeding is shorter, about 1-2 years. In all livelihood zones, it was
also noted that the proportion of children breastfeeding declines drastically after 12 months even
though the children are still expected to be on the breast. Among the pastoral and agro-pastoral
communities, more than 80% of mothers stop breastfeeding after 2 years, while a few mothers
breastfeed for up to 3 years. In Gedo, breastfeeding continues up to 3 years, unless the mother is
pregnant
COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING
Age of Introduction
The study found that only a few mothers are aware that complementary food should be
introduced to children after 6 months. Majority of mothers from all livelihood zones are not
aware that complementary foods should be introduced when the child is six months old. Reports
from all livelihood zones therefore show that soft and semi-solid foods are introduced from the 3 rd
month while animal milk or powdered milk is introduced as early as one month or before. Breast
milk alone is not considered adequate for the child to get satisfied.
Choice and Types of Complementary Foods
The types of food consumed by children vary by child’s age, socio-economic status and
availability of the food items. Porridge, family food, (cereal-based ‘soor’ with sauce of
tomato/onion; boiled maize/sorghum grains with oil & sugar) and tea are consumed daily by
children from all livelihood zones. Fruits and vegetables are rare in the children’s diet as they
were hardly mentioned by respondents from any of the livelihood zones during the data collection
process. Rice, pasta, Canjero and meat were reported to be consumed once a week or
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