Tololu Abdurehman Kalu, Teshome Bekele, Fessaha Hiwot Zelalem, Kaso Abdene Weya
Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Arsi University, Asella, Ethiopia.
Oromia Health Bureau, Bokoji Town Health Office, Bokoji, Ethiopia.
BMC Pediatr. 2025 Jan 31;25(1):82. doi: 10.1186/s12887-025-05443-9.
One of the contributing factors for malnutrition among children aged 6-23 months is inappropriate complementary feeding. Appropriate complementary feeding practices have the potential to prevent 6% of all deaths among children 6-23 months, particularly in developing countries. Thus, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of appropriate complementary feeding practices and associated factors among mothers aged 6-23 months in Bokoji Town, Oromia Region, Ethiopia.
A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 6-23 aged children in Bokoji town from May 1-30, 2023. A total of 434 mothers of children aged 6-23 months were recruited by simple random sampling technique using computer-generated random numbers. The Collected data were entered into Epi Info version 7 and exported into SPSS version 25 for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable Logistic regression model was used to determine factors associated with appropriate complementary feeding practice. A p-value of < 0.05 and an Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% CI were used to declare the factors associated with the outcome variable.
The study found that 80.0% (95% CI: 76.0%, 83.5%) of children had a timely introduction of complementary feeding, 19.8% (95% CI: 16.3%, 23.8%) had minimum dietary diversity, 93.8%(95% CI: 91.2%, 95.8%) had minimum meal frequency and 19.4%(95% CI: 15.8%, 23.3%) had minimum acceptable diet. The level of appropriate complementary feeding practice in this study was 13.1%,(95% CI: 10.1%, 16.6%). Husband education level [AOR = 4.32:95% CI:1.68,11.11], Mothers education level [AOR: 3.98, 95% CI:1.64-9.67], birth order [AOR = 13.65:95% CI:3.56, 52.34], Postnatal care visit[AOR: 4.35, 95% CI:1.52,12.49], and place of birth [AOR: 2.97, 95% CI:1.26,6.98] and mothers knowledge of Infant and Youth Child feeding services [AOR: 10.03, 95% CI:2.66, 37.81] were significantly associated with appropriate complementary feeding practice.
The study found the prevalence of mothers who practiced appropriate complementary feeding is low in the study area. Factors such as the education level of husband and mother, birth order, postnatal care visit, place of birth, and mothers' knowledge of Infant and Youth Child feeding services were significantly associated with appropriate complementary feeding practice. Thus, healthcare providers should provide continuous health education on complementary feeding during antenatal care visits, postnatal care visits, and child immunization services.
6至23个月大儿童营养不良的一个促成因素是辅食添加不当。适当的辅食添加做法有可能预防6至23个月大儿童中6%的死亡，特别是在发展中国家。因此，本研究旨在确定埃塞俄比亚奥罗米亚地区博科吉镇6至23个月大儿童母亲中适当辅食添加做法的流行情况及相关因素。
2023年5月1日至30日，在博科吉镇对6至23岁儿童开展了一项基于社区的横断面研究。采用计算机生成随机数的简单随机抽样技术，共招募了434名6至23个月大儿童的母亲。收集的数据录入Epi Info 7版本，并导出到SPSS 25版本进行分析。采用双变量和多变量逻辑回归模型确定与适当辅食添加做法相关的因素。p值<0.05以及95%置信区间的调整比值比（AOR）用于确定与结果变量相关的因素。
研究发现，80.0%（95%置信区间：76.0%，83.5%）的儿童及时添加了辅食，19.8%（95%置信区间：16.3%，23.8%）的儿童饮食多样性最低，93.8%（95%置信区间：91.2%，95.8%）的儿童进餐频率最低，19.4%（95%置信区间：15.8%，23.3%）的儿童饮食可接受性最低。本研究中适当辅食添加做法的水平为13.1%（95%置信区间：10.1%，16.6%）。丈夫的教育水平[AOR = 4.32：95%置信区间：1.68，11.11]、母亲的教育水平[AOR：3.98，95%置信区间：1.64 - 9.67]、出生顺序[AOR = 13.65：95%置信区间：3.56，52.34]、产后护理访视[AOR：4.35，95%置信区间：1.52，12.49]、出生地[AOR：2.97，95%置信区间：1.26，6.98]以及母亲对婴幼儿喂养服务的了解程度[AOR：10.03，95%置信区间：2.66，37.81]与适当辅食添加做法显著相关。
研究发现，研究地区实施适当辅食添加做法的母亲比例较低。丈夫和母亲的教育水平、出生顺序、产后护理访视、出生地以及母亲对婴幼儿喂养服务的了解程度等因素与适当辅食添加做法显著相关。因此，医疗保健提供者应在产前检查、产后护理访视和儿童免疫接种服务期间提供关于辅食添加的持续健康教育。
