Abstract
Background Dietary diversity (DD) is among the core infant and young child feeding (IYCF) indicators. However, in many developing countries, meeting the minimum standards of DD is challenging and information concerning its determinants is limited. Objective To assess the level and predictors of DD among children aged 6–23 months in rural communities of Aleta Wondo district, Sidama zone, Southern Ethiopia. Method A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in rural Aleta Wondo in February 2016. Multistage sampling was employed to recruit 502 children aged 6–23 months. DD was assessed by asking the mother whether the index child had received food from the standard seven food groups in the previous day, without setting minimum intake restrictions. Ultimately, the dietary diversity score (DDS) was rated on a 7-point scale, and it was modeled using linear regression analysis. The outputs are presented using adjusted regression coefficients (β). Results Only 12.0% (95% confidence interval: 9.0–15.0%) of the children met the minimum recommended DD, receiving from four or more from seven food groups. The analysis identified eleven significant predictors of DDS. As the maternal knowledge of IYCF increases by a unit, DDS raised by 0.21 units (p = 0.004). Unit increment in the husband's involvement in the IYCF score was linked with 0.32 units improvement in DDS (p = 0.016). One unit change in the ordinal category of household food insecurity was associated with 0.13 reduction in DDS (p = 0.001). Similarly, household wealth index (β = 0.54, p = 0.041), father's literacy (β = 0.48, p = 0.002), ownership of home garden (β = 0.38, p = 0.01), mother's participation in cooking demonstrations (β = 0.19, p = 0.036), and child age in months (β = 0.04, p = 0.001) were all positively associated with DDS. Furthermore, receiving IYCF information via mass media (β = 0.04, p = 0.001) and during antenatal (β = 0.91, p = 0.022) and postnatal checkups (β = 0.21, p = 0.043) were positive predictors of DDS. Conclusions Promoting the socioeconomic status of the community, strengthening of home gardening, involving husbands in IYCF, and enhancing maternal knowledge of IYCF may advance DD.
Highlights
Dietary diversity (DD) is among the core infant and young child feeding (IYCF) indicators
Study Area. e study was conducted among mothers of children aged 6–23 months living in the Aleta district, Sidama zone. e capital of the district Aleta Wondo town is located 330 km south of Addis Ababa
The district is organized into 2 urban and 27 rural villages—the smallest administrative unit in Ethiopia comprising approximately 1,000 households. e Aleta Wondo district has an area of 210 km2, and more than 70% of the land is considered arable. e inhabitants are mainly reliant on subsistence agriculture, and the major crops grown are maize, root crops especially Ensete, haricot bean, and cash crops such as coffee and Khat
Summary
Dietary diversity (DD) is among the core infant and young child feeding (IYCF) indicators. To assess the level and predictors of DD among children aged 6–23 months in rural communities of Aleta Wondo district, Sidama zone, Southern Ethiopia. Household wealth index (β = 0.54, p 0.041), father’s literacy (β = 0.48, p 0.002), ownership of home garden (β = 0.38, p 0.01), mother’s participation in cooking demonstrations (β = 0.19, p 0.036), and child age in months (β = 0.04, p 0.001) were all positively associated with DDS. According to the 2016 estimate of the World Health Organization (WHO), globally 22.9% (155 million) children under five years are stunted and 7.7% (55 million) are wasted. In Ethiopia, according to the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) 2016, 38, 24, and 10% of children under the age of five years are stunted, underweight, or wasted, respectively [4]. It is estimated that about one-third of the global death of children under the age of 5 years is indirectly
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