The Impact of Women's Empowerment on Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices: Key Dimensions and Mediating Channel in Nepal

The concept of women's empowerment has received a lot of recognition in the past few years and is considered an important factor in determining the nutritional outcomes of children. Nevertheless, there is a lack of evidence regarding the impact of women's empowerment on infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices. This study examined the causal relationship between women’s empowerment and IYCF outcomes by utilizing the most recent data from the Demographic and Health Survey (2022) conducted in Nepal. Women's empowerment is measured using a composite index that encompasses five domains: information access, healthcare access, asset ownership, decision-making autonomy, and attitude towards domestic abuse. Each of these dimensions was also analyzed separately to assess its impact on IYCF practices. The empirical strategy encompassed the Lewbel two-stage least squares method (I+E) as the primary methodology. The findings indicate a positive relationship between the overall women’s empowerment score and minimum meal frequency, minimum acceptable diet, and iron-rich foods. Specifically, the information access dimension has a positive relationship with the minimum acceptable diet and iron-rich foods. The decision making autonomy dimension is positively related to the minimum meal frequency, vitamin-A rich foods, and iron-rich foods. The attitude toward domestic violence dimension indicates a positive relationship with minimum dietary diversity, minimum acceptable diet, and vitamin-A rich foods. Further analysis also suggests that women's empowerment has an indirect effect on IYCF practices, specifically through mother’s education. It has a substantial positive impact on minimal dietary diversity, a minimum acceptable diet, and vitamin A rich foods. Interventions aimed at enhancing IYCF practices in Nepal should prioritize women's empowerment strategies. In particular, focus on key areas such as decision-making autonomy, access to information, and shaping women's attitudes towards domestic violence. Likewise, it is also necessary to comprehend the indirect impact of a mother's education on these child nutritional outcomes.