TITLE:
Infant and Young Child Feeding Practice Status and Associated Factors among Mothers of under 24-Month-Old Children in Shashemene Woreda, Oromia Region, Ethiopia
AUTHORS:
Fanos Yonas, Mekuria Asnakew, Mekitie Wondafrash, Misra Abdulahi
KEYWORDS:
Infant and Young Child Feeding Practice, Ethiopia
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.2 No.7,
July
1,
2015
ABSTRACT: Background: Infant and young child feeding is a cornerstone of care for
childhood development. In Ethiopia, very
large proportions of women do not practice optimal breastfeeding and complementary
feeding for their children. Composite variables of infant and young child
feeding index based on key indicators identified by WHO are not studied in
Ethiopia; also there are no studies which document infant and young child
feeding practices patterns and associated factors with inappropriate feeding practices in the study area. Objective:
To assess infant and young child feeding practice (IYCFP) status and
associated factors in Shashemene Woreda, Oromia Region. Methods: A community
based cross sectional study was conducted from 01/04/2014 to 30/04/2014. A
total of 423 mothers who had child less than two years were included in the
study using simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using pretested
semi structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate
logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with infant
and young child feeding practices. Statistical significance was determined at p
value level less than 0.05. Results: Overall, the prevalence of inappropriate infant
and young child feeding practice in study area was 67.9%. Being Government [AOR
= 9.81 (1.90, 50.65)] and private [AOR = 7.66 (1.40, 41.94)] employee of
husband, poorest socio-economic status [AOR = 1.39 (1.30, 6.48)], not attending
ANC (AOR = 4.32 (2.27, 8.21)], child age 0 - 5 months [AOR = 16.01 (5.01, 50.03)],
negative attitude of mothers [AOR = 2.50 (1.14, 5.47)] and number of children 3
- 4 [AOR = 5.37 (1.67, 7.42)] were independent predictors of inappropriate
IYCFP status. Conclusion: Inappropriate infant and young child feeding practice
was prevalent in the study area. Interventional initiatives should focus on
improving socio-economic status, and access to information, education and
communication (IEC); also increasing ANC coverage for further improvement of
IYCF is recommended.