Ensuring adoption of optimal Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices (IYCF) by mothers and or guardians is a state obligation despite it being ultimately a family decision. Influencing household IYCF choices has been proven to be a complicated engagement. Several government interventions mainly focused on drawing positive behaviors of families to optimal IYCF practices were initiated with various successes and failures. It has been found in various studies that adoption of appropriate IYCF practices is affected by several geographical, socio-economic, and cultural factors. This study investigated the adoption and management of appropriate IYCF practices in Nueva Vizcaya Philippines with the end goal of enhancing and strengthening the province's Child Nutrition Program. Factors considered were socio-demographics, current IYCF practices, and issues and concerns of program implementation. Information was generated from 205 mothers with stunted children, 28 field program implementers, and 30 IYCF program managers. Results were presented and analyzed using descriptive statistics. A general profile of a mother with stunted children in Nueva Vizcaya was established by the study. She is one who is between 25-35 years old, with no membership to any organization, married, literate but without college degree, with one to three children, main occupation is farming and/or housewife, main source of family income is farming and/or daily wage earners, and resident of either upland or lowland community. This study found out that mothers in Nueva Vizcaya were generally challenged by physical and situational limitations, rather than behavioral inclinations, in their adoption of optimal IYCF practices. Breast problems, inadequate or absence of milk flow, and work outside home emerged as the major barriers to adoption.

Compared to the latest national figures, early initiation of newborn to breastfeeding in Nueva Vizcaya was higher, exclusive breastfeeding up to a child's sixth month was slightly lower, continued breastfeeding up to two years or beyond was lower, and introduction of solid or semi-solid foods to babies at less than six months was slightly higher. The IYCF program of the province was found to be strong in terms of personnel and funding but these strengths were also among its weaknesses due to gaps between lowland and upland areas. Services, facilities, and manpower were mostly concentrated in the lowlands while these were lacking in the uplands. The need to strengthen existing community-based IYCF support group was apparent and mother's capacity to adopt appropriate IYCF practices was the biggest challenge and threat to IYCF program success.

Key words: adoption, management, appropriate infant and young child feeding practices, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines, IYCF program

Thesis (Master of Management - Public Management)

Includes appendices and bibliographical references.