Table 4 Priority and agreement scores for the ten lowest ranked research questions on infant and young child feeding in emergencies (IYCF-E)
From: Research priorities for improving infant and young child feeding in humanitarian emergencies
Research instrument | Research questions | Priority rank | Priority score | Agreement rank | Agreement score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Existing and new interventions | As cup feeding presents many challenges, are there ways to improve cup feeding technique or to develop a new technique? | 38 | 70.6 | 42 | 57.3 |
Existing and new interventions | How long can expressed breast milk be kept without refrigeration in different climate conditions, i.e., temperatures and humidity, in terms of micro-biological safety, micro-nutrient contents and protective factors? | 39 | 70.5 | 45 | 55.8 |
Policy and system | How to scale-up small effective IYCF-E programmes? | 40 | 70.3 | 37 | 61.5 |
Policy and system | How to use effectively available evidence to package advocacy messaging on the importance of protecting IYCF in emergencies by implementing and sustaining IYCF-E interventions? | 41 | 69.3 | 43 | 56.0 |
Existing and new interventions | How to estimate the needs for breast milk substitutes and engage with private sector to supply generic breast milk substitute that is Code compliant? | 42 | 69.1 | 46 | 55.0 |
Existing and new interventions | What are the feasibility, achievable goal and effectiveness of different IYCF-E interventions per se or combined, e.g., mass communication, baby-friendly tents, support group at distribution points or in the community, individual counselling, within different phases of an emergency, and different contexts, on IYCF-E practices, nutritional status and morbidity? | 43 | 68.9 | 33 | 62.4 |
Basic epidemiological research | What is the relation between breastfeeding and, wasting, stunting and enteropathy? | 44 | 68.7 | 44 | 55.8 |
Policy and system | How to build capacity in IYCF-E at local, national and international level? | 45 | 68.6 | 28 | 66.0 |
Policy and system | What has been the impact of governments’ and international organizations’ level of engagement on success or failure of IYCF-E programming in past emergencies? | 46 | 68.6 | 40 | 58.1 |
Existing and new interventions | How to measure feeding practices beyond mother interviews to overcome the risk of reporting bias? | 47 | 68.0 | 41 | 58.0 |
Existing and new interventions | When feeding at the breast is not possible, what is the feasibility and effectiveness of using disposable bottles? | 48 | 65.5 | 48 | 51.7 |