ISSN: 2574-2701
Authors: Tuji TS* and Wake AD
Background: The available data suggests that the rate for Minimum acceptable diet (MAD) is low across all regions worldwide. The level of mothers towards acceptable diet one of the key elements to feed their child. However, level of Knowledge and its associated factors towards acceptable diet among infants and children aged between 6 and 23 months living in study area is unknown. Objective: this study was aimed to assess the level of Knowledge and associated factors towards acceptable diet among infants and children aged between 6 and 23 months old children in Gimbichu Woreda, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2019. Methods: A descriptive community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 782 mothers/caregivers paired with infants and children aged 6 to 23 months with a response rate of 97.1%, from March 12 to April 08, 2019. One-stage cluster sampling technique was employed. A structured pretested tool was used to collect the data. The binary logistic regression analysis was applied for levels of knowledge. All variables were transformed to multivariable logistic regression model irrespective of any transforming criteria to control the effects of confounder/s and to identify statistically significant variables. Finally, the variables which had independent correlations with level of the knowledge were identified on the basis of Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) and a p-value less than 0.05with 95%CI were claimed as statistically significant. Results: The proportion good knowledge of the mother towards practicing MAD was 52.4% (95% CI, [48.8, 56.0]). Fathers’ who have attended secondary and above (AOR=3.97, 95%CI (1.58,12.42), mothers attending PNC [AOR=7.24, 95% CI (4.34,14.4), husband involvement (AOR=6.05, 95% CI (2.43,15.10), richest wealth status [AOR=2.7, 95%CI (1.24,6.03), women’s involvement [AOR= 9.32, 95% CI (4.03,21.52) were positively associated with the level of knowledge. Conclusion: Almost half mothers have good knowledge regarding acceptable diet. Educational level of fathers, PNC, husband involvement, richest wealth status, and women’s involvement was positively associated with the level of knowledge. Assuring mother’s involvement on decision making and promoting husband involvement on infant and child feeding are strongly recommended to mitigate the problem.
Keywords: Nutrition; Feeding; Acceptable Diet; Level of Knowledge Gimbichu Woreda; Ethiopia
