Abstract:
Background: The consumption of poorly diversified diet during childhood exposes to malnutrition and interferes
with normal growth and development. However, the burden and determinant factors are not understood in Addis
Zemen town. Therefore, this study was aimed at determining the minimum dietary diversity and determinant
factors among children aged 6–23 months.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Addis Zemen town south Gondar zone,
Northwest Ethiopia from May 10 to 30/2018. A total of 517 infant-mother/caregiver pairs were included. The
cluster sampling followed by simple random sampling technique was employed. Pretested structured face-to-face
interviewer-administered questionnaire was used. To ascertain minimum dietary diversity, the 24-hour food
recall method comprising seven food item questionnaire was used. The presence of a statistical association between dependent and independent variables was declared using the adjusted Odds ratio corresponding with 95%
confidence intervals and P-value of ≤0.05.
Result: The overall proportion of children who met the minimum dietary diversity was 44.6% (95% CI:
40.1–49%). Childage (6–11 months) [AOR = 0.55(0.34, 0.89)], Father’s occupation [AOR = 2.41((95% CI: 1.16,
5.01)], father’s educational status (primary and below) [AOR = 0.33(95% CI: 0.14, 0.76)], housewife mothers/
caregivers OR = 2.41(AOR 95%: 1.16, 5.01)], did not have child history of illness in the last one week AOR =
1.58(95% CI: 1.01, 2.48)], and mothers knowledge on dietary diversity [AOR = 0.35(95% CI: 0.23, 0.55)], were
factors associated with minimum dietary diversity.
Conclusions: Well over four out of in every ten children consumed the recommended diversified foods. Paternal
educational and occupational status, mothers occupation, child’s age, history of childhood illness in the past one
week, and knowledge of mothers on diversified foods were factors which predicted minimum dietary diversity.
Thus, prevention of childhood illness, enhancing mothers/caregivers awareness towards complementary feeding,
and promotion of nutrition in the earliest age of childhood is strongly suggested
