Abstract:
Introduction: Infant and young child feeding habits and nutritional adequacy of the diet
directly affects the nutritional status of children under two years of age and, ultimately,
impact child survival. Improving infant and young child feeding practices in children 6–23
months of age is therefore critical for improved nutrition, health and development. Adequacy
of diets of young children is not known in the study area.
Objective: To assess dietary nutrient adequacy among the children of age 6-23 months living
in the rural kebeles of Konta special woreda, South nations Ethiopia.
Methods: A community based cross-sectional survey design was employed to collect dietary
data from 154 Infants and young children who were breast feed aged 6-23 months from
March 21/2016 to April 11/2016 living in rural kebeles of Konta special woreda, infants were
selected using multi-stage sampling technique, Data was collected by
using an interviewer‟s administered semi structured questionnaire The dietary adequacy of
children was assessed by calculating the medians and interquartile of crude nutrient intakes,
nutrient density and the proportion of children with intake below EAR and AI which are the
recommendations of nutrient intake values set by IOM. The nutrient intake was then
compared with the desired levels for the nutrients measured.
RESULT: The median intakes for most micronutrients, and macronutrients across the group
was higher than the estimated need value. However the nutrient density below the desired for
all the nutrients across all the age groups.
Conclusion: The median intakes for most nutrient by the study subjects was in comparison
with the WHO/FAO (2004) estimated need values but the median of nutrient density for most
nutrients was low and the proportion of children with values less EAR and AI value are very
high. This concludes the dietary intake of the study participants is less diversified and cereal
based with low intake of animal source food.
