Background: Malnutrition in childhood has been linked with inappropriate and ineffective complementary feeding practices especially during the first two year of life. Complementary feeding involves the introduction of other forms of foods and or liquids from six months of age when breast milk only can no longer meet the dietary requirements of infants. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of optimal complementary feeding practices and associated factors among mothers of children 6-23 months in Jijiga town of Somali Region of Ethiopia.
Methods: A community based cross-sectional design conducted among 227 mothers of children aged 6–23 months using multi-stage sampling technique. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire analysed using SPSS version 23. Logistic regression analysis was done to determine factors associated between optimal complementary feeding practices.
Results: The prevalence of optimal complementary feeding practice was 49.4%, however 57% of the respondents introduced complementary feeding between 6-8 months. Minimal meal frequency and minimal dietary diversity among the respondents was 52% and 45% respectively. Optimal complementary feeding practice was significantly associated with mother’s level of education [AOR=3.4; 95% CI: 2.26-6.14], being employed [AOR=3.94; 95% CI: 1.08-6.57],parity [AOR=5.60; 95% CI: 2.17-8.67], Antenatal Care (ANC) attendance [AOR=7.23; 95% CI: 2.76-11.91), health facility delivery [AOR=4.20;95% CI: 1.06-7.55] and family size [AOR=3.65; 95% CI: 1.80-7.17)
Conclusion: Nutrition education and counselling being provided by health workers to mothers should focus on promoting not only timely initiation of complementary feeding but adequate in quantity, appropriate frequency and consistency using variety of foods combination to accommodate the nutritional needs of the growing child while continuing breastfeeding.