Development Media International (DMI) Childhood Project

The 2016 MICS study reveals that exclusive breastfeeding rates are still painfully low in Côte d’Ivoire. Exclusive breastfeeding has enormous benefits linked to child survival and health development. When a child is exclusively breastfed in the first 6 months of its life, their immune system is strengthened, enabling it to combat life-threatening diseases. Optimal complementary feeding is also an important factor in young children’s optimal development. About 65.5% of 6-month-olds receive complementary feeding as recommended by national and international standards. However, these complementary foods are very often inappropriate for their age. Many children aged 6 months and older in Côte d’Ivoire eat foods that should be consumed mainly by adults, such as attiéké, rice, cassava with sauce, etc.

The use of physical punishment is also very widespread among parents and caregivers; 86.5% of young children have experienced violent discipline within the past month, according to the MICS. Parents underestimate the effectiveness of positive discipline and cultural norms undermine behavior changes. Finally, because of gender and cultural norms, play, early stimulation, and responsive care still lag between parents and their young children; fathers are especially distant.