Case Study: Impact of IYCF Behavior Change of a Mother of Twin Babies
Haman Mohammed Isack is a mother of 9 children, 4 boy 5 girls, with no child spacing at all with whom all live in Alikus IDP camp near ADC zone, Haman and her kids had been displaced from a village called Roobey Gaduud out of Baidoa district. She was born and raised in the same village where she got married and gave birth to 7 kids at the same village RoobeyGaduud.
During the daily routinely health and nutrition activities, she had visited health facility carrying twins with she stopped breastfed before 25 days due to of complaining some disease she was admitted and examined MUAC suddenly she was malnourished and counselled to feeding plumpy nut to raise her nutrition status.
The recurrent drought in the region has forced Haman and her family to move to the main town of Baidoa in search of better living conditions and access livelihoods. “We had no option than to leave the village because the farm were dry and we could do farming activities which is the only means of living we had at RoobeyGaduud” she said in feeble voice.
Life wasn’t easy for Haman and her family and the relocation process from the village to Baidoa town didn’t favor them too as she recalls “The first time we came to Baidoa, we didn’t have any family members to welcome us and we ended up at the IDP settlement where we had to make our own makeshift huts to shelter”.
Haman and her family are finally settled at the AliKus IDP camp and even with facing similar difficulty of the IDPs her and her husband see live at the IDP quite reasonable as compared to the drought-hit village where she came from thus she replied “I am quite happy here though I am house wife but my husband retired and he’s patient at home staying on bed the whole day”
Haman is a resident at ALiKuus IDP camp ADC Zone where SCI/GREDO have a center/site under the OFDA project.
When she first joined the program, she had twins and she was suffering from Anaemia as she could hardly stand for few minutes
She said “I can’t stand long minutes and I am feeling headache and irregular heartbeats”.
lack of child spacing was a major issue to Haman as she didn’t have any idea of the importance of the child spacing which is carefully recommended in the Islamic teaching of breastfeeding a child till the age of 2 years, when she was informed of the same reference from Islamic knowledge point of view, she agreed to her lack of child spacing (I don’t know much of the Islamic teaching child breasting timelines of 2 years and I am already over burden by the routine care taking of the kids at home all alone as my husband sometimes go out to exercise” she answered.
On the first week of her admission to the program, she had participated IYCF sessions at the OTP/ SFP site at SalaameyIidale but due to her special case of having 9 kids to look after at home; GREDO IYCF team have planned an individual counselling for Haman at her home.
Haman having gained IYCF skill from the OFDA program now practices proper breastfeeding as the nutrition team especially IYCF counsellor are following up her case at her house and her child breastfeeding had improved compared to her other kids.
The story: interviewee’s story in his or her own words. Please use exact words with direct quotes
My name is Haman Mohamed Isaq I’m 35 years old mother, I have nine children 4 boys and 5 girls.
All kids are the same father, I live in Ali Kus IDP ADC zone, Baidoa District.
I’m resident and house-wife, my husband is retired and he is in patient at home.
After I gave birth to twins i become malnourished and I decided to stop breastfeeding my twins in 3 months because my breast did not produce milk.
I seek treatment for myself and my twins and I come Ali Kus IDP health facility to get my child treatment and care, after that I got treatment to my twins and also I participate IYCF Group session, I know a lot of information related important breastfeeding, benefits of breastfeeding, introduction of safe complementary feeding also I know the child could re-lactate if mother stopped breastfeeding of her child.
Few days after I come IYCF group and share with them how I started breastfeeding my twins and I tell that I want to return her child for breastfeeding.
The IYCF Counsellor Rukia give me consultation on my youngest child I was Developed breastfeeding as she was explained to me the importance of complementary breastfeeding to my child and its benefits, talking to misconceptions and the none existing linkage between breastfeeding and my children’s, good attachments, Risks of using formula milk children under six months, how introduce safe and appropriate complementary feeding because my son is 6 month of age and it’s time to give additional foods with breast milk, also teach me how should I give and prepared a balanced foods that contain 4 food groups.
The counselor encourage me to re-lactate again of my twins, Know I re-lactate again, my twins and I give both breastmilk and additional foods.
Thanks to the Rukia for helping me.
IYCF counselling process.
- Haman, The mother; was well oriented on the initiation of early breastfeeding and giving colostrum to the child where she had explained the benefits of the colostrum’s.
- Importance of balance diet had been explained to her and how it contributed to the wellbeing of her body for effective breastfeeding of the child. Similarly benefits of proper hygiene practicing had been informed
Conclusion
Haman having twins children namely Ikran and Soonto, GREDO IYCF counsellor have provided one on one session at her home, she was well convinced, happy and promised that she strictly follow all the key messages that she learned and practices of breast feeding as briefed by the IYCF counsellor.
