Abstract:
Background: Nutrition in infancy and early childhood is a critical determinant of health and
productivity of the individual throughout life. During this period, appropriate, safe, nutritionally
adequate and frequent feeding is essential. Despite this recommendation and the health benefits of
appropriate complementary feeding inappropriate complementary feeding is commonly practiced.
There is no information compliance to national IYCF recommendation and associated factors
among mothers of children age 6-23 months in the area.
Objective: To assess compliance to national IYCF recommendation and associated factors among
mothers of children 6-23 months of age in Gombora district, South Ethiopia.
Method: Community-based cross-sectional study design was employed in Gombora district from
March 1 to March 30, 2016. The data were collected from 379 respondents selected by simple
random sampling technique using pre-tested and semi-structured interviewer administered
questionnaire. Bivariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression were employed to identify
factors associated with compliance to IYCF.
Results: Of the total 379 study subjects,13.5% (95% CI =10,17.5) of the respondents were reported
as they comply with national IYCF recommendation; in multivariable analysis, the odds being
compliant to national IYCF recommendation was 5.26 times as much for those respondents (9-12)
grades of educational status and above than primary education(1-8)(AOR=5.26;95%
CI:2.318,11.914), accordingly the odds being compliant was 3.88 times as much for those mothers
of children within the age group(18-23)months than mothers of children age(6-11)months
(AOR=3.88; 95%CI:1.641,9.162), the odds of being compliant to national IYCF recommendation
was 3.95 times as much for antenatal care visits greater than or equal to four than less than four
antenatal visit (AOR=3.95;95%CI:1.840,8.488) and similarly the odds of being compliant was 2.95
times as much for those respondent who had postnatal care visit than no post natal care visit
(AOR=2.95;95%CI:1.318,6.349) and the odds being non-compliant to national IYCF
recommendation was 81% times among those who were not knowledgeable on indicators IYCF
than those knowledgeable(AOR=0.19 ;95%CI:0.075,0.465) and the odds being compliant 6.02
times as much for those counseled on IYCF than those with no counseling on IYCF
(AOR=6.02;95%CI:2.786,12.998).
Conclusion and recommendations: This study revealed that compliance to national IYCF
recommendation was low in the area compared with other countries. Nutrition education to mothers
at every contact opportunity was recommended and mothers who were completed only primary
education need more attention. All mothers must be encouraged to make antenatal care follow up at
least four times.
