Impact of type of child growth intervention program on caregivers’ child feeding knowledge and practices: a comparative study in Ga West Municipality, Ghana

Community‐based growth promotion ( CBGP ) delivered by community volunteers aims at enhancing the traditional growth monitoring and promotion ( GMP ) program delivered by community health nurses through the promotion of optimum infant and young child feeding ( IYCF ) leading to improved child growth. This study compared IYCF knowledge and practices among caregiver–child pairs (0–24 months) receiving child welfare services from CBGP ( n  = 124) and GMP ( n  = 108) programs. Semistructured questionnaires were used to interview caregivers on IYCF knowledge/practices and validated food frequency questionnaire used to record infants’ food intakes. Group differences were determined using Chi‐square and independent samples t ‐tests ( P  < 0.05; 95% confidence interval [ CI ]). Mean IYCF knowledge scores were similar ( CBGP : 10.84 ± 1.69 vs. GMP : 10.23 ± 1.38, P  = 0.062). However, more CBGP caregivers (17%) were highly knowledgeable than their GMP counterparts (5%) ( P  = 0.011). Early breastfeeding initiation ( CBGP : 54% vs. GMP : 28%, P  < 0.0001), exclusive breastfeeding ( CBGP : 73% vs. GMP : 56%, P  = 0.001), and timely complementary feeding ( CBGP : 72% vs. GMP : 49%, P  = 0.014) were reportedly higher among CBGP caregivers. Underweight was 11% ( CBGP : 8% vs. GMP : 14%, P  = 0.154). Mean dietary diversity scores (10 food groups) were similar ( CBGP : 4.49 ± 1.89 vs. GMP : 3.87 ± 1.89, P  = 0.057) but more CBGP caregivers (77%) achieved minimum dietary diversity than their GMP counterparts (61%) ( P  = 0.035). Few caregivers achieved minimum meal frequency ( CBGP : 31% vs. GMP : 29%, P  = 0.486) and minimum acceptable diet ( CBGP : 23% vs. GMP : 21%, P  = 0.464) indicators. Number of children under 5 years owned by caregiver (adjusted odds ratio [ AOR ]: 0.405; 95% CI : 1.13–78.53, P  = 0.038), her educational level ( AOR : 0.112; 95% CI : 0.02–0.90, P  = 0.040), and IYCF knowledge ( AOR : 0.140; 95% CI : 0.03–0.79, P  = 0.026) significantly predicted optimum child feeding. Nutrition education on optimum complementary feeding and birth spacing strategies should intensify.