Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation
Research and innovation
The Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF) has a rich history of conducting impactful research aimed at improving breastfeeding, maternal nutrition, and complementary feeding practices. With a dedicated team of expert researchers, BBF has significantly contributed to both national and global understanding of maternal and child health through innovative research, driving important policy changes and enhancing healthcare practices through generated new evidence for others research.
BBF research efforts are guided by Prof. Dr. S K Roy, an internationally recognized senior scientist who serves as the Research Chairman. Under his leadership, BBF has built a robust research portfolio spanning over two decades, solidifying its position as a leader in generating new evidence and policy development in Bangladesh and global areas.
Since 1998, BBF has conducted 12 rounds of surveillance on breastfeeding, maternal nutrition, and complementary feeding. This surveillance has provided critical insights into evolving trends, challenges, and practices across Bangladesh, shaping national health strategies and interventions aimed at improving maternal and child nutrition.
BBF has completed 67 research studies on topics related to nutrition, breastfeeding, healthcare systems, and child development, adolescent, elderly, obesity. Many of these studies have been published in the international reputed journals, contributing to global knowledge and advancing best practices in maternal and child health. BBF has also published two research compendiums and regularly issues a research bulletin to disseminate findings and recommendations to stakeholders at both national and international levels.
BBF continues to commission priority-based research on breastfeeding, maternal nutrition, and complementary feeding, ensuring that emerging and critical challenges in maternal and child health are addressed. Research findings are regularly shared at the policy level, leading to actionable interventions and programs that support maternal and child health across Bangladesh.
*****BBF is also deeply committed to fostering academic research, guiding students in nutrition research with innovative ideas from Food and Nutrition departments at various Home Economics colleges and universities across Bangladesh. This collaboration aims to inspire new research avenues and develop practical solutions that address the country’s nutritional challenges, further enhancing the academic and practical landscape of nutrition and public health.
Each year, around 100-120 students participate in 25 research projects under the guidance of BBF and the Nutrition Foundation of Bangladesh (NFB). These joint research initiatives provide students with hands-on experience in the fields of breastfeeding, maternal and child nutrition, and complementary feeding. This collaboration helps build a future workforce equipped with the skills needed to improve health outcomes for mothers and children, while contributing valuable research to the national and global knowledge base.
Looking ahead, BBF plans to further support the next generation of researchers through its student research grant program, fostering academic research in breastfeeding and nutrition. This initiative is aimed at building a skilled workforce dedicated to advancing maternal and child health outcomes.
Under the guidance of Prof. Dr. S K Roy, the Board of Trustees of BBF, and senior staff, BBF’s expert research team continues to lead groundbreaking research in maternal and child health. Their contributions influence national policies and shape global discussions on improving breastfeeding, nutrition, and healthcare practices, solidifying BBF’s role as a leader in advancing health outcomes for mothers and children both in Bangladesh and worldwide.
A. Key Research Areas
BBF’s research explores breastfeeding practices across Bangladesh, examining barriers, facilitators, and outcomes related to exclusive and continued breastfeeding. Studies focus on:
The benefits of early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months.
The impact of breastfeeding on infant growth, development, and maternal health.
Understanding the social, cultural, and economic factors influencing breastfeeding practices, such as maternal employment, urbanization, and healthcare systems
BBF conducts extensive research on complementary feeding to promote optimal nutrition for children beyond six months of age. Areas of investigation include:
Timely introduction of safe, nutritious, and locally sourced complementary foods.
The role of complementary feeding in addressing malnutrition, stunting, wasting, and anemia.
Give training focus on meal frequency, portion size (quantity), Dietary diversity and technique of natural feeding.
Developing and promoting culturally relevant and nutritionally adequate recipes for complementary foods.
BBF’s research on maternal nutrition seeks to understand its impact on maternal and child health outcomes. Focus areas include:
Maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation and its influence on fetal development, birth outcomes, and infant health and LBW babies growth.
The effectiveness of nutrition education programs for pregnant and lactating women.
The relationship between maternal health, breastfeeding practices, and child survival, especially in low-resource settings.
BBF’s research on maternal nutrition seeks to understand its impact on maternal and child health outcomes. Focus areas include:
Maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation and its influence on fetal development, birth outcomes, and infant health and LBW babies growth.
The effectiveness of nutrition education programs for pregnant and lactating women.
The relationship between maternal health, breastfeeding practices, and child survival, especially in low-resource settings.
BBF investigates the intersection of food security, agriculture, and nutrition to develop sustainable solutions for improving maternal and child health. Research areas include:
Assessing household-level food security and its impact on child growth and maternal health.
Evaluating the safety of complementary foods, focusing on food hygiene and contamination risks, particularly in resource-constrained settings.
BBF has conducted research on the effectiveness of Mother Support Groups (MSGs) in improving breastfeeding and nutrition outcomes at the community level. Key findings include:
The impact of peer support and community-based interventions on promoting exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding.
The role of MSGs in enhancing maternal and child health education, improving healthcare access, and reducing malnutrition.
The contribution of MSGs to improving nutritional status across the life cycle, providing ongoing support for women, children, adolescents, and the elderly, and delivering targeted interventions through the life cycle approach to ensure optimal nutrition and health at every stage of life.
Unique, cost-effective, and sustainable strategy: MSGs provide a self-help approach that empowers community members to address malnutrition and health challenges. These groups are linked to Community Support Groups (CSGs) and Community Clinics (CCs) within the government health system, creating a collaborative network for effective, long-term solutions to improve nutrition and health outcomes at the community level.
BBF evaluates the impact of national and international policies on breastfeeding and nutrition practices. Research areas include:
Monitoring and assessing the implementation of the Breast Milk Substitutes (BMS) Act, Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), and the Global IYCF Strategy.
Evaluating the effectiveness of advocacy efforts in shaping public health policies that support breastfeeding and optimal nutrition.
Ensuring compliance with WHA resolutions and the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes to protect breastfeeding in Bangladesh.
Focusing on BBF publications stemming from research, highlighting key findings that inform national policies and contribute to global discussions on breastfeeding and nutrition.
BBF researches how agriculture can better support nutrition, particularly for maternal and child health. Focus areas include:
Promoting the cultivation of nutrient-dense crops, such as vegetables, fruits, and small fish, to support breastfeeding and child nutrition.
Assessing the impact of sustainable agricultural practices on food security and nutrition at the household and community levels.
B. Collaborative Research
BBF collaborates with both national and international organizations, academic institutions, and government bodies to enhance its research efforts. Through these partnerships, BBF actively contributes to global research agendas focused on breastfeeding, nutrition, and maternal and child health. These collaborations ensure that research findings are widely disseminated and effectively utilized to inform policies, shape programs, and influence global health strategies.​
C. Use of Research in Policy and Program Development
BBF uses its research to inform evidence-based policies and programs at both national and community levels. Key applications include:
Evidence-based advocacy: BBF leverages research findings to advocate for stronger laws and policies that protect breastfeeding, promote complementary feeding, and improve maternal and child nutrition.
Program implementation: Research findings guide the implementation of key programs such as BFHI training, complementary feeding promotion, and nutrition education for mothers and caregivers.
Monitoring and evaluation: BBF continuously monitors and evaluates its programs to assess their impact on breastfeeding rates, child nutrition, and maternal health outcomes.
D. Future Research Priorities
BBF remains committed to addressing emerging challenges in maternal and child health through innovative research. Future research priorities include:
Innovative approaches to improving breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices in urban and rural settings.
Investigating pregnancy weight gain, complications, and near miss events to better understand and address maternal health challenges.
Research on low birth weight (LBW) and effective interventions to reduce its occurrence.
Developing and testing solutions for stunting reduction and interventions for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) to improve child growth and development outcomes.
Utilizing digital technologies to provide breastfeeding and nutrition counseling to mothers in remote areas.
Study on the impact of seaweed, small fish, and egg-based interventions on the nutrition of pregnant women, with a focus on their role in improving maternal and child health outcomes.
Finding the long-term impact of early nutrition interventions on cognitive development, school readiness, and overall health in children.
Finding the long-term impact of early nutrition interventions on cognitive development, school readiness, and overall health.
Exploring the effects of climate change and environmental degradation on food security, nutrition, and maternal and child health in Bangladesh.