Abstract
There are various religions in Ethiopia, of which the Orthodox Tewahido Christian accounts for 44% of the population. According to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido practice close to 200 days annually are dedicated to fasting. During this time, all followers who are above seven years old are expected to abstain from all types of food, including animal source foods and water for up to some hours daily. It is possible that such practice by mothers or caregivers could affect children's dietary practice. However, whether mothers/caregivers' fasting status influences dietary diversity of children during these periods remained uninvestigated. A community-based longitudinal study was conducted in Debrebirhan, North Shewa Zone, Ethiopia in seven randomly selected kebeles. We collected data in a sample of 218 mothers/caregivers, from January 29 to February 25, 2019 in the pre-fasting period and from March 18 to April 10, 2019, during fasting period on same participants. Data was entered on Epi-Data version 4.4.2.1 and analyzed using STATA 15 software. Children's dietary diversity was measured using the World Health Organization (WHO) standardized questionnaire for infant and young child feeding. The McNemar paired test was used for comparison of baseline and end line measurements. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. A total of 218 and 216 mothers/caregivers with children 6-23 months participated in the study before and during fasting season with a response rate of 100.0% and 99.0% respectively. The median age of children was 14 months. The proportion of children who met the minimum dietary diversity before the fasting season was significantly higher (23.4%) compared to during the fasting period (5.5%). (P<0.001). The proportion of children who consumed dairy product was significantly higher (55.5%) before the fasting period compared to consumption during the fasting period (42.6%) (p<0.001). Similarly, consumption of flesh food was significantly higher before the fasting period (17.9%) compared to consumption during the fasting period (0.46%) (P<0.001). The study revealed that mothers/caregivers' fasting status negatively affect the dietary diversity of children aged 6-23 months in the household by decreasing their consumption of animal source food. Intervention strategies in promoting children's dietary diversity should be designed in a way that considers Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Christian mothers/caregivers' fasting practice.
Highlights
The years from birth to two years of age is a critical period for infants and young children to have proper feeding practices in order to prevent child malnutrition [1]
The study revealed that mothers/caregivers’ fasting status negatively affect the dietary diversity of children aged 6–23 months in the household by decreasing their consumption of animal source food
Dietary diversity (DD) is an indicator used to assess the appropriateness of these infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices
Summary
The years from birth to two years of age is a critical period for infants and young children to have proper feeding practices in order to prevent child malnutrition [1]. Dietary diversity (DD) is an indicator used to assess the appropriateness of these infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices It refers to increasing consumption of the number of variety of foods across and within the food groups capable of ensuring adequate intake of essential nutrients. According to World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation, “minimum dietary diversity” (MDD) is defined as the proportion of children 6–23 months who consumed a minimum of four foods out of the seven food groups in the previous day. These food groups are grains, roots and tubers; legumes and nuts; dairy products; flesh foods; eggs; vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables; and other fruits and vegetables [2]. Whether mothers/caregivers’ fasting status influences dietary diversity of children during these periods remained uninvestigated
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