Optimal complementary feeding practice and associatedfactors among mothers in west badewacho district, hadiya zone, snnpr, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Background: Optimal complementary feeding practices play an important role in reducing early child morbidity and mortality. Evidences have shown that promotion of optimal complementary feeding practices reduces the occurrence of stunting and that end with better health and growth outcome. Thus, this study is intended at assessing optimal complementary feeding practices and associated factors among mothers of children age 6–23 months. Objective: to assess optimal complementary feeding practice and associated factors among mothers of children age 6 - 23 months Methods: A community-based cross sectional study design was conducted among 682 mothers of children 6–23 months of age in the eight randomly selected kebeles. A multistage sampling technique was used to identify study subjects. Data was collected using pre-tested structured questionnaire. Data was entered in to Epi data version 3.1. Data cleaning and analysis were done using SPSS version 21.Binary logistic regression was used to see the association between the outcomevariables and explanatory variables and multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of timely introduction of complementary feeding, minimum mmeal frequency and minimum dietary diversity. Results: Total of 671 mothers of children 6–23 months ages were included in analysis. Proportion of children who met timely introduction of complementary feeding, minimum dietary diversity, and minimum meal frequency milk fed for non breast minimum and acceptable diet was 81.1%, 36.6 %, 61.0%, 20.0% and 19.8% respectively. Wealth index [AOR=2.64(1.43,4.88)], total number of under-5year children [AOR=0.13(0.03,0.54)] were positively associated withtimely introduction of complementary feeding practice, husband education [AOR=6.1(1.51,25.19)],having information on breast feeding [AOR = 3.59(1.15,11.18)], mother perception to baby body size[AOR = 1.91(1.27,2.88)] total number of children [AOR = 1.982(1.12,3.48)] and having information on breast feeding [AOR = 3.58(1.15,11.17)] were positively associated with dietary diversity. Besides, birth interval [AOR = 1.807(1.04, 3.12)], frequency of breast feeding [AOR = 2.88(1.01, 8.25)], wealth index [AOR = 1.89(1.18, 3.05)], and GMP participation [AOR = 0.37(0.14, 0.94)] postnatal follow-up [AOR = 0.70(0.02, 0.23)] were positively associated with minimum meal frequency. Conclusion:Even if the study showed enhanced progress as compared to the national prevalence of complementary feeding practices, optimal complementary feeding practices in the study area were not adequate and not achieving WHO infant and young child feeding recommendations. So, intensification of the existing strategies and creating new intervention measures to strengthen husband education, distribution of IEC material focused on breast feeding and complementary feeding, family planning, ensure food security at household level, highly recommended to improve optimal complementary feeding practice.