ASSESSMENT OF INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD FEEDING PRACTICES AMONG MOTHERS OF CHILDREN AGED 0-23 MONTHS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN BECHO DISTRICT SOUTH WEST SHOA ZONE OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Introduction: Despite its needs to child survival, growth and development many infants and children do not receive optimal feeding, Worldwide of 136 million babies born every year, as many as 92 million are not able to experience the WHO recommended optimal feeding practices. In Ethiopia only 52% are exclusively breast fed and only about half are eating complementary foods. Interrupted breastfeeding and inappropriate complementary feeding heighten the risk of malnutrition, illness and mortality. Objective :To assess infant and young child feeding practice and associated factors among mothers of child age 0-23 month. Methods : community based cross sectional study was conducted from 25/03/2014 to 15/04/2014 among 845 mothers who were living in Becho district, oromia , central Ethiopia. The study participants were recruited from all the Kebeles of the District using simple random sampling. Structured and semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire were pre tested and used, Bi-variate and multivariable logistic regression were computed to see association and P<0.05 consider as statistically significant. Odd ratio and 95% CI were used to present the result. Results: From 820 mothers participated in the study only 27.2% practiced age appropriate infant and young child feeding according to WHO recommendation. Early initiation of breast feeding was associated with mothers’ good knowledge on infant and young child feeding practice (AOR=4.42, 95%CI=2.30, 8.524), attending antenatal care (AOR =3.03, 95% CI =, 1.48, 6.23), receiving child feeding advice (AOR =2.42, 95% CI = 1.29, 4.56), home delivery (AOR =.09, 95% CI = 0.05, 0.14) and living in rural area (AOR=0.41,95%CI=0.19,0 .86).Exclusive breast feeding was associated with mothers good knowledge on infant and young child feeding knowledge (AOR=11.13, 95%CI=3.27,37.88) preceding birth interval greater than 2 years (AOR=4.38,95% CI= 1.88, 10.31) , living in nuclear family (AOR=3.19,95% CI=1.25,8.17),having less than 4 children (AOR=2.86,95% CI=1.04,7.920 and living in rural area (AOR=0.22, 95%CI=0.05,0.89).Starting complimentary food at recommended time was associated with mothers good knowledge on infant and young child feeding (AOR=4.69, 95%IC=1.59, 13.86), child age 6 to 7 (AOR=0.03, 95% CI 0 .02, 0.08), having access to media (AOR=3.97,95%, 1.89, 8.35) attending antenatal care (AOR=3.15,95%CI=1.03,9.61) and institutional delivery (AOR=3.06,95%=1.23,7.65), living in rural area (AOR=0.29 95%CI=0.10, 0.81). Providing minimum dietary diversity was associated with mothers good knowledge on infant and young child feeding (AOR= 2.23, 95%CI =1.31, 3.79), father’s educational status (AOR=1.69, 95%CI=1.11,2.55), receiving child feeding advice (AOR=1.81, 95%CI=1.09, 2.99) ,attending postnatal care (AOR=1.59, 95%CI=1.06, 2.34) and living in urban area (AOR=3.75,95%CI=2.33,6.03) providing minimum meal frequency was associated with mother’s good knowledge on infant and young child feeding (AOR=2.92,95%CI=1 .50,5.60),attending antenatal care (AOR=3.07,95%CI=1.68, 5.61), receiving child feeding advice (AOR=2.43,95%CI=1.35, 4.38), child age 6- 7(AOR=0.20, 95%CI=0.10,0 .37) mothers age less than 30 years(AOR=2.48, 95% CI=1.33,4.60) and having access to media (AOR=1.71,95%CI=1.08,2.71). Conclusion: According to this study there is some improvement on infant and young child feeding practice in the study area than previous studies in the country, but still infant and young child feeding practice is unsatisfactory and needs special attention. Children in rural area, children age between 4-month and children belongs to older mothers are at high risk of inappropriate feeding practice. Improving mother’s knowledge on infant and young child feeding, improving family access to media, improving utilization of health service and providing child feeding advice to mothers are factors found to be independently and significantly associated with appropriate infant and young child feeding practice in the area