Complementary Feeding Practices of Children 6-23 Months of Mother-to-Mother Support Groups Participants and Non-Participants in Kakuma, Turkana County, Kenya: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study
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Date
2020
Authors
Oteri, S.K
Kimiywe, J
Chege, P
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ScienceForecast Publications
Abstract
Objective: The study describes comparison of complementary feeding practices of infants and
children 6-23 months of mothers participating in Mother-to-Mother Support Groups (MtMSGs)
and those not participating. This study was carried out in Kakuma Division, Turkana County,
Kenya.
Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in 3 locations in Kakuma division.
The study targeted mothers of children 6 to 23 months of age. Systematic random sampling was
used to select the 177 MtMSGs participants from 15 MtMSGs groups, as the study group and 179
MtMSGs non-participants from two locations which had no MTMSGs as the comparison group.
The mothers who participated in this group had children 6-23 months. A structured questionnaire
was used to collect socio-economic, demographic and complementary feeding practices data.
Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted for fathers, grandmothers and Traditional
Birth Attendants (TBAs). Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20. Pearson correlation (r), T
test, chi-square and odds ratio were used to measure associations, relationships, comparisons and
risk associated with being or not being MtMSGs participants, respectively.
Results: About 97.2% and 95.0% of children 6-23 months in both groups, respectively, had
been breastfed. Significant difference was noted for complementary feeding association where
MtMSGs participants were 1.8 times more likely to introduce complementary foods at 6 months
while MtMSGs non-participants introduced foods earlier than 6 months. The odds ratio showed
that MtMSGs participants were 1.3 times more likely to continue breast feeding up to 24 months,
twice more likely to give a variety of foods, give iron rich foods and likely to have a recommended
minimum meal frequency.
Conclusion: Participating in MtMSGs group led to a higher likelihood of introduction of foods at
6 months and continued breastfeeding up to 2 years. Children of MtMSGs participants were more
likely to consume food from 4 or more food groups and rich in iron than those of non-participants.
This study therefore recommends use of MtMSGs to enhance the sensitization of mothers on
exclusive breastfeeding, continued breastfeeding and optimal complementary feeding
Description
article
Keywords
Mother-to-mother support groups, Complementary feeding practices
Citation
Oteri SK, Kimiywe J, Chege P. Complementary Feeding Practices of Children 6-23 Months of Mother-To- Mother Support Groups Participants and Non-Participants in Kakuma, Turkana County, Kenya: A Cross- Sectional Comparative Study. J Pediatr Womens Healthcare. 2020; 3(1): 1020