Appropriate complementary feeding practices and associated factors among mothers of children age 6-23 months in Southern Ethiopia, 2015

Background: Poor complementary feeding of children aged 6-23 months contributes to the characteristics negative growth trends and deaths observed in developing countries. Evidences have shown that promotion of appropriate complementary feeding practices reduces the incidence of stunting and leads to better health and growth outcome. This study was aimed at assessing practices of complementary feeding and associated factors among mothers of children aged 6-23 months. Methods: A community-based cross sectional study design was conducted among 611 mothers who had children with 6-23 months of age in the ten randomly selected Kebeles (smallest administrative unit). A multistage sampling technique was used to identify study subjects. Data were collected using pre-tested structured questionnaire. Data were entered in to Epi info version 3.5.1. Data cleaning and analysis were done using SPSS version 16. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95 % confidence interval (CI) were computed to measure the strength of association. Results: The response rate was 97.6 % (611/626). The practices of timely initiation of complementary feeding, minimum meal frequency and minimum dietary diversity were 72.5, 67.3 and 18.8 % among mothers of 6-23 months aged children, respectively. The practice of appropriate complementary feeding was 9.5 %. Child's age (12-17 and 18-23 months) [Adjusted OR: 2.75 (95 % CI: 1.07 7.03), 2.64 (95 % CI: 1.06 6.74)], educational level of mother (primary and secondary and above schools) [AOR: 3.24 (1.28 8.20), 3.21 (1.1.07 9.70)], and smaller family size [AOR: 12.10 (95 % CI: 1.10 139.7)] were found to be independent predictors of appropriate complementary feeding practice of 6-23 months old children. Conclusion: Low appropriate complementary feeding of children aged 6-23 months was observed. Mothers who are illiterate, children age 6-11 months and families with large size were associated factors for inappropriate feeding practices. Therefore, nutritional counseling on child feeding practices were recommended.