Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices Among Mothers with Children Below 24 Months in Ikotos County, Eastern Equatoria , South Sudan: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Inappropriate Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices remain a critical public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa, with significant short- and long-term consequences on child morbidity and mortality. South Sudan, burdened by protracted conflict and food insecurity, reports among the worst child nutrition indicators on the continent. Despite national policies on Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN), IYCF practices remain largely suboptimal and understudied at the community level, particularly in Ikotos County, Eastern Equatoria .