Measuring Responsive Feeding in Sri Lanka: Development of the Responsive Feeding Practices Assessment Tool.

Objective: To develop and validate a tool focusing on responsive feeding (RF) practices among mothers and infants aged between 6 and 12 months in Sri Lanka.

Design: A comprehensive review, an in-depth qualitative study, and a cross-sectional study were carried out.

Setting: Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka.

Participants: Sample of mother-infant pairs (n = 170).

Variables Measured: Items were developed by extracting data from a previous in-depth qualitative study on RF, informed by currently available RF items.

Analysis: Content validation was performed among experts using standard techniques, followed by cognitive interviews among mothers. Structural validity was assessed using principal component analysis. Test-retest reliability was done with a sample of 50 mothers.

Results: Cognitive validation with mothers confirmed the applicability and comprehensiveness of the tool. The tool possessed good reliability with an intraclass correlation of 0.80 and internal consistency of 0.79. The principal component analysis showed a clear 3 factor solution. The 3 factors were interpreted as responsive communication during feeding, appropriate feeding, attentive to child's signals, and proactive preparation of the feeding environment. The final version of the tool consisted of 15 items.

Conclusions And Implications: The 15-item Responsive Feeding Practices Assessment Tool is a valid tool to assess RF.