Abstract:
Background: From the age of 6 months, an infant‘s need for energy and nutrients starts to exceed
what is provided by breast milk, and complementary feeding becomes necessary to fill the energy
and nutrient gap. If complementary foods are not introduced at this age or if they are given
inappropriately, an infant‘s growth may falter. Only 4% of youngest children 6-23 months living
with their mothers are fed in accordance with acceptable Infant and Young child feeding (IYCF)
practices in Ethiopia.
Objective: To assess infant and young child complementary feeding practices and associated
factors in Damot Weydie district, Welayta Zone, South Ethiopia, 2014
Methods: A community-based cross sectional study design was conducted among four hundred one
mothers who had children with 6-23 months of age in Damot Weydie district. Simple random sampling was
used to select the required number of sample. Pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect data
using a face-to-face interview. Data was entered with EpiData 3.1 and analysis was done by using SPSS
version 20. Frequency distribution, binary logistic regressions were done. OR with 95% confidence
interval was computed to measure the strength of association. Complementary feeding practices were
identified using new and updated definitions by WHO in 2010.
Results: Of the four hundred four mothers/caregivers, four hundred one were included in the study making
the response rate 99.2%. About 50.6% of children introduced complementary food at six months of age.
Proportion of children aged 6–23 months who were with appropriate complementary feeding practice was 8.5%.
Mothers with employed were 86% less likely to practice inappropriate complementary feeding than (AOR= 0.14
(0.04, 0.50) those of housewives. Mother‘s attended postnatal follow up were 81% less likely to practice
inappropriate complementary feeding compared with mother‘s not attended (AOR= 0.19(0.05, 0.70).
Children born preceding birth interval with less than 35 months were 2.67 times more likely to practicing
inappropriate complementary feeding when compared to greater than 35 months (AOR= 2.67 (1.22, 5.83).
Conclusion and recommendation: mothers fed complementary foods appropriately to their children
aged 6-23 months (8.5 percent), which was very low. Mothers who are housewives and children with birth
interval less than 35 months need counseling on income generating activities & birth spacing respectively.
All mothers must be encouraged to make postnatal care
