Technical report on:

Community Infant and Young Child Feeding Counselling

training (ToT)

Seven days’ IYCF counselling TOT training held in Kapoeta North facilitated jointly by SCiSS and UNICEF
Duration: 15th - 22nd November 2011
Venue: Riwoto Secondary School, Kapoeta North
1. Acknowledgement:
The 7 days’ training was organized jointly by SCiSS Nutrition Programme Manager and UNICEF Nutrition
consultant. The input of the Kapoeta North county staffs, SCiSS administration, Loyapuru community
members and the participants is acknowledged.

2. Introduction:
The SMART survey conducted by Save the children in March reported poor IYCF indicators in Kapoeta
North; initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour (24.7%), Exclusive breastfeeding (3%), timely
introduction of complementary feeding (21.3%). Based on the above indicators, IYCF training and the
roll out of Mother support Groups among other recommendations were suggested in effort to
improve the indicators.

3. General Objective of the training

To train Community Based Health Workers on Infant and Young Child Feeding Counseling (IYCF) and
ToT skills in IYCF.

4. Specific Objectives:
1. To impart knowledge and skills on;
 IYCF
 IYCF counselling
 Conducting IYCF trainings.
2. To orient participants on the functioning of Mother to Mother support Groups (MtMSGs)

5. Organization of the course:

5.1. Selection of Participants:
This being IYCF TOT training, training needs assessment was done through interviews to select 21
Participants from SCiSS Nutrition and Health department who are competent in written and
spoken English. Of the selected participants 70% were Nutrition staff while the rest were
Community Case Management (CCM) staff.

Prepared by: SCiSS Nutrition Programme Manager and UNICEF Nutrition Consultant 1
 5.2. Training Materials:
Training materials (Facilitators’, Participants’ manuals; counseling cards, key messages booklet,
take-home brochures were adapted from the standard community IYCF Training package
designed by UNICEF.
The training covered IYCF counseling, Overview of Mother to Mother support Groups (MtMSG)
and TOT modules. IYCF had 20 sessions; MtMSG 2 sessions and TOT had 12 Sessions.

5.3. Training Methods

The training methods were tailored to suit the capacity of the participants most of whom included
community based health workers. Some of the methods used included; demonstrations, field
visits, lectures, role play, brainstorming, games, group work, buzz groups, small group, cases study
and plenary presentations. To enhance understanding, each session was summarized in local
language (Toposa).

6. Monitoring and Evaluation

6.1. Monitoring
Understanding of the content was checked regularly through Daily recap and question and answer
sessions at the end of each topic.
The welfare of the participants was monitored through “eyes and ears” who were participants
whose role was to get feedback from participants on a daily basis.

6.2. Evaluation
Training content was evaluated through pre and post knowledge assessment on IYCF and TOT.
The assessment questions were adopted from Community IYCF training package.
To further check understanding of participants on TOT skills, each participant was given an
assignment of preparing and presenting a session. Based on this assignment, participants’ skills on
TOT were evaluated; those who demonstrated required skills were given certificate of
Competence in ToT

Prepared by: SCiSS Nutrition Programme Manager and UNICEF Nutrition Consultant 2
 The average score for the pre-test and post-test on IYCF was 51% and 72% respectively.
Therefore, increase in knowledge was 23% in general. With a pass mark of 65%, half the class
received certificate of competence; the other half were advised to re-do the training in future to
attain a level of competence required.

7.0. Feedback from the participants

The course combined two trainings done in 7 days inclusive of weekend which made it too long. In
future it should be split into two and weekend left to be free; ideally 5 days IYCF counseling
course, a weekend break and 3 day TOT.
The participants appreciated the facilitation skills of the facilitator.
The training was new to the participants but interesting as it they could reflect on what they were
already doing.

8.0. Follow up after the training

8.1. Community IYCF counseling implementation work plan
The plan includes the following;
 Food demonstrations to enhance the practical skills on preparation of locally available
complementary feeds.
 Utilisation of the new trainers to train the lower cadre staffs and the eligible mother support
group facilitators on IYCF counselling

 Identification of 2 staffs to oversee the implementation and integration of IYCF into the
community routine activities (community mobilisation and sensitisation, OTP/SFP, health
education, home visits and follow up on discharge from OTP/SFP)

 Designing a simplified IYCF manual to be used in training the MtMSG facilitators.

8.2. Roll out plan for MtMSGs

The plan includes the following;

 Selection of a pilot village (the team suggested Loyaguru in Najie payam)

 Design community sensitisation messages on MtMSGs

 Conducting community sensitisation meetings at Payam, Boma and village levels

Prepared by: SCiSS Nutrition Programme Manager and UNICEF Nutrition Consultant 3
  Identification of MtMSG facilitators.

 Training MtMSG on facilitation and IYCF counselling skills

 Formation of MtMSGs in the selected pilot village

 Identification of supervisors for MtMSGs

 Design supervision plan for the MtMSGs

 Replication MtMSGs programme to other villages

9.0. Recommendations to make future IYCF trainings more effective.

 Need to have a standard IYCF training kit containing demonstration materials like dolls,
breasts, cups, spoons, IEC materials (Counselling cards, brochures) and other necessary
training materials
 Need to design a more simplified IYCF manual for training the illiterate health workers

Prepared by: SCiSS Nutrition Programme Manager and UNICEF Nutrition Consultant 4
 Annex 1: List of Participants
No Name Department Payam
1 Jack Amos Lolimo Nutrition Wokobo
2 Fionah Hanan CCM Paringa
3 Taban K Kwaje Nutrition Nakwa
4 Janet Lometo Nutrition Najie
5 Oringa Joseph Nutrition Najie
6 Jensy Naroo CCM Paringa
7 Marino Lokuru Aponi Nutrition Musingo
8 Matthew Abei CCM Musingo
9 James Loojo Lomago CCM Chumakori
10 Ally Ally Nutrition Lomeyien
11 Abraham Choi Clay Nutrition Paringa
12 Janet Anyek Clay Nutrition Paringa
13 Alukor William EPI Najie
14 John Lorem EPI Najie
15 Poni Rose CCM Payam
16 Matthew Abei CCM Musingo
17 Ling Alex Nutrition Lomeyen
18 Okeny Peter Nutrition Riwoto
19 Peter Lokwor Nutrition Chumakori
20 Kaniyorug Eliza Nutrition Chumakori
21 Caroline Namara Nutrition Musingo
22 Amuduk Sarah Nutrition Chumakori
23 Janet Anyek Clay Nutrition Paringa
23 Achayo Vicky Nutrition Najie

NB: The two EPI participants only attended the TOT.

Prepared by: SCiSS Nutrition Programme Manager and UNICEF Nutrition Consultant 5
 Annex 2: Training photos
(clockwise: participants facilitating an IYCF support group session in Loyapuru village, morning
recap, participant explaining the structure of the breast, Four star Diet)

Prepared by: SCiSS Nutrition Programme Manager and UNICEF Nutrition Consultant 6