Alive & Thrive Infant and Young Child Feeding Community-based Support Group Model in Viet Nam

Alive & Thrive is an initiative in Vietnam aimed at improving infant and young child feeding by increasing rates of exclusive breastfeeding and improving complementary feeding practices. This document describes the IYCF support group model, how it is established, and the tools used in its implementation. It focuses on the establishment of IYCF support groups for pregnant women and mothers of children 0-5 months; mothers of children 6-23 months; and fathers, grandmothers, and other community members in remote areas where ethnic minorities reside. IYCF support groups promote optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices by providing a space where participants can share knowledge, information, and their own IYCF experiences as well as provide mutual support to one another. IYCF support groups are facilitated by trained community-based workers (CBWs) who have IYCF knowledge and have mastered some group dynamic facilitation skills.

Source: Alive & Thrive

Date of Publication: March 25, 2019