Kumera Gemechu, Tsedal Endalkachew, Ayana Mulatu
Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences and Medicine, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
Nutr Metab (Lond). 2018 Feb 14;15:16. doi: 10.1186/s12986-018-0248-0. eCollection 2018.
Proper feeding practices during early childhood is fundamental for optimal child growth and development. However, scientific evidences on the determinants of dietary diversity are scanty. Particularly, the impact of fasting on children`s dietary diversity is not explored in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to assess dietary diversity and associated factors among children aged 6-23 months, whose mothers/care-givers were Orthodox Christians during the fasting season (Lent), in Dejen District, North West Ethiopia, 2016.
A community based cross-sectional study was conducted during the fasting season from March to April, 2016. The study sample were children aged 6-23 months, whose mothers/care-givers were Orthodox Christians. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 967 children proportionally from all selected kebeles. Data was entered using Epi data and statistical analysis were done using logistic regression. P-value < 0.05 at 95% confidence interval was taken as statistically significant.
Only 13.6% of children surveyed met the minimum requirement for dietary diversity. Unsatisfactory exposure to media [AOR = 5.22] and low household monthly income [AOR = 2.20] were negatively associated with dietary diversity. As compared to economic related reasons, mothers/caregivers who do not feed diet of animal origin to their children due to fear of utensil contamination for family food preparation were 1.5 times [AOR=1.5; 95% CI (1.05 - 2.53)] less likely to feed the recommended dietary diversity.
The findings of this study revealed that the diet of children in the study area lacked diversity. Promoting mass media and socioeconomic empowerment of women have positive contribution to optimal child feeding practice. Sustained nutrition education to mothers regarding proper infant and young child feeding practice in collaboration with the respective religious leaders is highly recommended.
幼儿期适当的喂养方式是儿童实现最佳生长发育的基础。然而，关于饮食多样性决定因素的科学证据却很少。特别是在埃塞俄比亚，尚未探讨禁食对儿童饮食多样性的影响。本研究旨在评估2016年埃塞俄比亚西北部德让地区6至23个月大儿童的饮食多样性及相关因素，这些儿童的母亲/照顾者在禁食季节（大斋期）是东正教徒。
2016年3月至4月禁食期间开展了一项基于社区的横断面研究。研究样本为6至23个月大、母亲/照顾者为东正教徒的儿童。采用系统随机抽样技术从所有选定的社区中按比例选取967名儿童作为样本。数据使用Epi数据录入，并采用逻辑回归进行统计分析。95%置信区间的P值<0.05被视为具有统计学意义。
接受调查的儿童中只有13.6%达到了饮食多样性的最低要求。媒体接触不足[AOR = 5.22]和家庭月收入低[AOR = 2.20]与饮食多样性呈负相关。与经济相关原因相比，因担心家庭食物制备器具受污染而不给孩子喂食动物性食物的母亲/照顾者，提供推荐饮食多样性的可能性要低1.5倍[AOR = 1.5；95% CI（1.05 - 2.53）]。
本研究结果表明，研究地区儿童的饮食缺乏多样性。推广大众媒体以及增强妇女的社会经济权能对优化儿童喂养方式有积极作用。强烈建议与各自的宗教领袖合作，持续对母亲进行关于婴幼儿适当喂养方式的营养教育。
