SUBOPTIMAL COMPLIMENTARY FEEDING PRACTICE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF MOTHER OR CARE GIVER OF CHILDREN AGED 6 TO 23 MONTHS IN SULULTA DISTRICT OROMIYA, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

Background: - Understanding the status complimentary feeding practice and associated factors in the community is very crucial for implementing interventions that increase the quality of life of the children at present and in the later life. Suboptimal complimentary feeding practice is an essential factor which result in under nutrition. However, there is limited information on the prevalence suboptimal complimentary feeding practice and associated factors among mothers/ care givers of infant and young children aged 6 to 23 months in low income countries like Ethiopia. Objective: -To determine the magnitude of Suboptimal complimentary feeding practice and associated factors among mothers or care givers of children aged 6-23 months in Sululta district, Central Ethiopia 2018. Methods and materials: - A community based cross sectional study design was used among a random sample of 484 mothers or care givers of children aged 6-23 months living in Sululta District, from February 1-24 2018. Data were collected using a pre-tested - structured face to face interviewer administered questionnaires. The collected data were entered on to Epi data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, numerical summary measures, text, graphs and tables was used to describe the outcome variables against all relevant independent variables. Bivariable logistic regression analyses were done to see the association between outcome variable and each independent variable. Variables with p-value less than or equal to 0.25 during bivariable analyses were entered into multivariable logistic regression model to control for all possible cofounders and identify factors associated with outcome variable. Odds ratios along with 95% confidence intervals were estimated to measure the strength of the association between independent variables and the outcome variable. Level of statistical significance declared at p value less than or equal to 0.05. Results: the prevalence of suboptimal complimentary feeding practices among mother or care givers of children 6-23 months of age were [74.9% 95%CI,(71%, 78.7%)] In multivariable logistic regression analysis having no planned pregnancy for index child [AOR=3.1,95%CI:(1.9,5.0)], having no Post Natal Care visit [AOR=2.38,95%CI:(1.4,4.0], family size greater than four [AOR=1.7,95%CI:(1.07,2.8) ], having children of fourth to seventh birth order [AOR=1.65,95%CI:(1.01,2.7) ] , having more than one under five children [AOR=1.38,95%CI:(1.4,4.0] and mother of Have no antenatal care visit were practice 4.6 time suboptimal complimentary feeding practice than mother of more than four and above antenatal care visit. AOR 4.6 CI %( 1.2, 11.1) and poor mother 1.7 times more likely practice suboptimal complimentary feeding than rich mother AOR=1.7CI%(1.15,3.22) were considered as a predictors of suboptimal complimentary feeding practice. Conclusion: The prevalence suboptimal complimentary feeding practice were high in the study area, that significantly associated with having no panned pregnancy for index child, have no post natal care visit, family size greater than four, mother of no antenatal care, poor and more than one under five children. Thus due attention should be given on health education on family planning, health service utilization of mother or care giver of children 6 to 23 months of age.