Dietary diversity, meal frequency and associated factors among infant and young children aged 6-23 months in Dangila, Northwest Ethiopia, 2014.

Abstract

Back ground: Inappropriate feeding increases the risk of under nutrition, illness and mortality of children less than 2 years of age. Only 10.8% and 44.7% of children 6 -23 months got minimum dietary diversity and minimum meal frequency respectively in Ethiopia. Objective: To assess minimum dietary diversity, meal frequency practices and associated factors among infant and young children aged 6-23 months in Dangila. Methods: Community based cross sectional study was conducted from March to April in Dangila. A total of 925 children aged 6-23 months were included. Simple random sampling technique was used.Interviewer administered questionnaire were uesd. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses was employed to identify factors associated with minimum dietary diversity and meal frequency. Results: A total of 920 children 06-23 months were included, with 99.5%response rate. Proportion of children who met the minimum dietary diversity and meal frequency was 12.6% and 50.4% respectively. Mothers education AOR 2.516; 95%CI (1.284, 4.929)]. Age of a child [AOR2.047;95%CI(1.172,3.575)],Birth order [AOR2.077;95%CI(1.235,3.494)],Urban area [AOR2.094;95%CI(1.117,3.926)], Home gardening[AOR2.031;95%CI(1.093,3.775)],and Media exposure [AOR2.738; 95%CI (1.517,4.943)] has significant association with minimum dietary diversity. Child age [AOR3.025;95%CI (2.141,4.274)], Birth order of child [AOR1.580;95%CI (1.133,2.205)], Mother involve in decision making [AOR1.512;95%CI(1.053,2.170)], Media exposure [AOR2.620;95%CI(1.901,3.611)] and Postnatal visit [AOR2.295; 95%CI (1.269,4.150)] has significant association with meal frequency. Conclusion and recommendation: children received minimum dietary diversity and meal frequency is low. Being Young age, first birth order and lack of media exposure affect both dietary diversity and meal frequency. Lack of education, live in rural area and lack of home gardening affect dietary diversity. Mother involvement in decision making and postnatal visit was protective for meal frequency. To increase dietary diversity and meal frequency increasing mother’s education, home gardening, mass media promotion and mother involvement in decision making are essential.