Abstract:
Background: Appropriate infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices remain low and the major cause of child mortality and morbidity in developing countries. Better understanding of the factors associated with IYCF practice is critical for identifying possible causes, population at risk and plan effective interventions. This study identified the overall infant and young child feeding practice and associated factors in Ethiopia.
Objectives: The objectives of the study were to assess infant and young child feeding practice and the factors associated with infant and young child feeding practice among mothers of children 0-23 months attending maternal and child health clinics in Woliso, South West Shoa, Ethiopia.
Methods cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in four randomly selected health centers of Woliso Woreda from May to June 2015, to investigate appropriate infant and young child feeding on mothers with children aged 0-23 months in woliso woreda visiting maternal and child health clinic at health centers. The data collected using structured questioner with rigorous daily checking to identify and correct errors, after that it was entered into EPIINFOand then exported to SPSS Version 20. Descriptive analysis was used to describe the frequency; the mean and median; and bivariate and multivariate analysis was done with logistic regression.
Results: from the total 400 mother participated in the study the overall appropriate IYCF practice was found to be19.3% with 95%CI and p-value <0.05. Factor significantly associated with infant and young child feeding practices were information on IYCF odds of (AOR= 0.28 95%CI,0.12,0.63), mothers knowledge on IYCF odds of (AOR =0.26,95%CI.0.13,0.55) and age of index child 12-23 odds of (AOR=5.28 95%CI,,1.76,15.80)with appropriate IYCF practice 0-23 months.
Conclusion and recommendation. According to this study, only (19.3%) of under age 2 years was appropriately fed according to WHO recommendations which is low, and infant and young children 6-8months and 12-23 months are at risk of inappropriate complementary feeding practice. Oromia regional health bureau, south west Shoa zone health department and Woliso woreda and concerned body should strengthen BCC on appropriate child feeding supported by practical IYCF practice for mothers to improve the practice in the large community.
................................................ Thesis available at ACIPH Library