Abstract
Introduction: Malnutrition has been responsible, directly or indirectly, for 60% of all deaths annually among children. Over two-thirds of these deaths, which are often associated with inappropriate feeding practices, occur during the first year of life. Objectives: To assess child feeding practices of Gumuz mothers and its correlation with the nutritional status of their children in Metekele Zone; Benishangul Gumuz region, North West Ethiopia. Methods: The study was conducted from February to March 2013, on randomly selected mothers with under-five children. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data for quantitative while in-depth interview was used for the qualitative. Z-scores of anthropometric indices were computed using ANTHRO PLUS 2007. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Association between independent variables affecting nutritional status of under-five children was identified by using multiple logistic regressions. Result: out of the 795 mothers interviewed, almost all (99.5%) ever breast-feed the baby, 95.6% imitated breast feed timely but 38.6% discard colostrum. From the sampled children 50.1% were in stunting, 14.2% underweight, and 10.2% with wasting. Place of residence (AOR: 1.5, 95% CL (1.07 - 2.12)), child age (AOR: 1.99, 95% CL (1.13 - 3.52)), mothers age (AOR: 3.62, 95% CL (1.08 - 12.18)), child currently not eat any solid/semi solid food (AOR: 2.38, 95% CL (1.45 - 3.92)), children receiving pre-lacteal feeding (AOR: 8.23, 95% CL (1.73 - 39.28)), frequency of feeding (AOR: 0.4, 95% CL (0.22 - 0.73)) and currently breast-feeding (AOR: 0.46, 95% CL (0.28 - 0.77)) were significantly associated with malnutrition of under-five children in the study area. Conclusion and recommendation: This study revealed higher proportion of malnutrition among children according the WHO classification. Optimal infant feeding practices should be promoted to improve nutritional status by providing adequate Information, Education and communication (IEC) on child feeding practices and further study were recommended.
Highlights
Malnutrition has been responsible, directly or indirectly, for 60% of all deaths annually among children
One key informant said, “These foods preferred for our children because they helped for growth, when we gave them they would grow well, if not became thin and no proper growth will have.”. This community based cross-sectional study tried to assess the status of feeding practices, nutritional status and factors associated with child nutrition of 6-59 months of children in Metekele Zone, Benishangul Gumuz region, North West Ethiopia
The present study revealed proportion of acute malnutrition 10.2% which is consistent with the result of EDHS, 2011, 10% [7], Kenya, 10.1% [40], Vietnam, 11.9% [17] and study conducted in developing countries 10% [32], but greater than the result in Ethiopia, Beta-Israel, 4.5%, Mexico, 3.8%, and Serbia, 4% (30, 34, 36)
Summary
Malnutrition has been responsible, directly or indirectly, for 60% of all deaths annually among children. Objectives: To assess child feeding practices of Gumuz mothers and its correlation with the nutritional status of their children in Metekele Zone; Benishangul Gumuz region, North West Ethiopia. Conclusion and recommendation: This study revealed higher proportion of malnutrition among children according the WHO classification. Optimal infant feeding practices should be promoted to improve nutritional status by providing adequate Information, Education and communication (IEC) on child feeding practices and further study were recommended. The WHO estimated that about 10.5 million under-five child die each year with 3.8 million deaths in Africa [1]. Well over two-thirds of these deaths, which are often associated with inappropriate feeding practices, occur during the first year of life [4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
