Complementary Feeding Knowledge of Mother and Nutritional Status of Infant/Young Children (6-23 Months) in Ethiopia

Abstract

Improving infant and young child feeding practices in children aged 6–23 months is critical to improved nutrition, health, and development. This paper examined the complementary feeding knowledge, attitude and practice of mothers and nutritional status of infants/young children in Jima Ganati District employing the cross sectional survey data conducted among 353 mothers of children aged 6-23 months. The result from the logit regression Education levels of mothers, age of mothers and mother occupation had a significant effect on mothers’ complementary feeding knowledge, attitude and nutritional status of infants/young children. In this study 54.6%, 60.4% and 34.6% of mothers had good knowledge, attitude and practice on complementary feeding respectively. The prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting of the infants/young children was 22.1%, 25.3% and 10.6% respectively.