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Factors related to exclusive breast feeding and dietary diversity of complementary foods: A case study in Amhara region of Ethiopia
Author(s) -
Nekatebeb Hana,
Guyon Agnes,
Beyero Mesfin,
Stoecker Barbara J
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.734.3
Subject(s) - breast milk , breast feeding , sanitation , medicine , environmental health , breastfeeding , colostrum , nutrition education , health education , pediatrics , demography , dietary diversity , geography , public health , gerontology , nursing , food security , biology , biochemistry , pathology , sociology , antibody , immunology , archaeology , agriculture
Factors affecting infant and young child feeding practices (IYCF) were evaluated for indicators related to key nutrition, health and sanitation practices. UNICEF's Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey methodology was used to carry out the assessment of 2,208 households selected for interviews. Fifty percent of the mothers were between 14–30 y. Only 60% of all mothers initiated breast feeding within 1 hr of birth and nearly 50% discarded colostrum. Only 19% of mothers of 0–5 m infants practiced exclusive breast feeding (EBF). On the other hand, 24% of mothers of 6–11 m infants were still practicing EBF. More than 65% of 6–8 m children did not receive complementary foods. Factors such as maternal education, trained delivery services and antenatal clinic visits (ANC) were associated with EBF (OR: 5.10, 2.37 and 5.27, respectively ‐ p<0.005). For example, one unit increase of maternal education, trained delivery assistance, or ANC visit increased exclusive breast feeding by factors of 5.10, 2.37 and 5.27 respectively. Maternal education was also associated with improved dietary diversity score of complementary feeding for the children (OR 1.8, p<0.05). More effort is needed to increase girls’ education and expand community‐based skilled delivery and ANC services to improve child health. (Funded by US Agency for International Development to Academy for Educational Development, Cooperative Agreement HRN–A–0097–00007‐08)