Maternal Knowledge and Complementary Feeding Practices and Their Relationship with Nutritional Status Among Children 6-23 Months Old In Pastoral Community of Marsabit County, Kenya: A Cross-Sectional Study
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Date
2020
Authors
Mutuku, Joyce Nzilani
Ochola, Sophie
Osero, Justus
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science
Abstract
Appropriate complementary feeding practices have positive impact on
health and growth of children aged 6-23 months. Little is known about
complementary feeding practices among the pastoralists. The aim of this
study was to document the influence of maternal knowledge on child feeding
and complementary practices on the nutritional status of children aged 6-23
months amongst a pastoral community in Kenya. A WHO standard validated
questionnaire was used to collect data from 289 randomly selected mothers/
primary caregivers and their children aged 6-23 months. The interviews were
conducted through face-to-face in a one-time household visit. The findings
showed that half (50.2%) of the children received complementary foods
at the age of six months. The proportion of breastfed and non-breastfed
children that achieved the recommended Minimum Meal Frequency (MMF)
was 28.7% and 2.6% respectively. About one-quarter (23.9%) achieved the
recommended Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD). A total of 5.9% achieved
the Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD). Majority of the mothers/caregivers
(95.1%) knew that children should be encouraged to feed while 61.6%
knew that children should be fed more frequently during and after illness.
The timing of introduction of complementary feeding ([OR]=0.307, P=0.001)
and child’s dietary diversity ([OR]=3.112, P=0.020 were predictors of wasting
among the children while timing of introduction of complementary feeding ([OR]=0.226, P=0.000) and maternal knowledge on the duration of
breastfeeding ([OR]=6.359, P=0.012) predicted child underweight.
Complementary feeding practices are not optimal and the nutritional status
of the children is poor. Complementary feeding practices predicted child
nutritional status whereas maternal/caregivers’ knowledge on complementary
feeding practices had limited impact on child nutrition status.
Description
A research article published in Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science
Keywords
Complementary Feeding, Minimum Acceptable Diet, Minimum Dietary Diversity, Minimum Meal Frequency, Nutritional Status, Pastoralists
Citation
Mutuku, J. N., Ochola, S., & Osero, J. (2020). Maternal Knowledge and Complementary Feeding Practices and their Relationship with Nutritional Status Among Children 6-23 Months Old in Pastoral Community of Marsabit County, Kenya: A Cross-Sectional Study. Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science Journal, 8(3), 862-876.