BACKGROUND

For optimal growth it is recommended to initiate breastfeeding within the first hour of birth and continue with exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. Subsequently, infants should receive complementary food for their nutritional needs. Ethiopia has been implementing policies and initiatives to enhance complementary feeding practices among infants and young children since the past two decades. However, the progress is slow. This study aimed to assess the level and factors associated with core indicators of complementary feeding practices among infants and young children in rural areas of Western Ethiopia.

METHODS

The baseline survey was conducted from September 19 to October 30, 2022, among 525 mother-child pairs in rural western Ethiopia. Multi-stage cluster sampling techniques were used; and the data were collected using an interviewer-administered pre-tested and structured questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26 software. On the final logistic regression model, variables with P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULT

The overall level of Minimum dietary diversity, Minimum meal frequency and Minimum acceptable diet was 16.6% [95% CI: 13.5, 20.0], 52.2% [95% CI: 47.8, 56.5] and 14.1% [95% CI: 11.2, 17.4], respectively. On multivariable logistic regression model, maternal exposure to media (AOR = 2.05,95%CI: 1.21,3.46), households with a high wealth index(AOR = 2.27,95%CI:1.23,5.33) and maternal attitude(AOR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.19, 5.69) were associated with minimum dietary diversity; maternal tertiary-level education (AOR = 5.83,95%CI:1.12,30.47), child age(AOR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.86, 0.99) and antenatal visits (AOR = 1.31,95%CI: 1.16,3.40) were predictors of minimum meal frequency; and abeing a farmer in the occupation of a partner (AOR = 0.19, 95%CI: 0.08,0.49) & households with a medium wealth index(AOR = 2.02, 95%CI: 1.01,4.06) were predictors of minimum acceptable diet.

CONCLUSION

Overall, complementary feeding practices in selected districts of the East Wollega Zone, as measured by dietary diversity, meal frequency, and acceptable diet, have not been adequately met, and there is a need for interventions to improve it in the area for the stakeholders, and future researchers.