Determinants of inadequate complementary feeding practices among children aged 6–23 months in Ghana

Abstract

Objective: To explore complementary feeding practices and identify potential risk factors associated with inadequate complementary feeding practices in Ghana by using the newly developed WHO infant feeding indicators and data from the nationally representative 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. Design: The source of data for the analysis was the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. Analysis of the factors associated with inadequate complementary feeding, using individual-, household-and community-level determinants, was done by performing multiple logistic regression modelling. Setting: Ghana. Subjects: Children (n 822) aged 6-23 months.Results: The prevalence of the introduction of solid, semi-solid or soft foods among infants aged 6-8 months was 72·6 % (95 % CI 64·6 %, 79·3 %). The proportion of children aged 6-23 months who met the minimum meal frequency and dietary diversity for breast-fed and non-breast-fed children was 46·0 % (95 % CI 42·3 %, 49·9 %) and 51·4 % (95 % CI 47·4 %, 55·3 %) respectively and the prevalence of minimum acceptable diet for breast-fed children was 29·9 % (95 % CI 26·1 %, 34·1 %). Multivariate analysis revealed that children from the other administrative regions were less likely to meet minimum dietary diversity, meal frequency and acceptable diet than those from the Volta region. Household poverty, children whose mothers perceived their size to be smaller than average and children who were delivered at home were significantly less likely to meet the minimum dietary diversity requirement; and children whose mothers did not have any postnatal check-ups were significantly less likely to meet the requirement for minimum acceptable diet. Complementary feeding was significantly lower in infants from illiterate mothers (adjusted OR = 3·55; 95 % CI 1·05, 12·02). Conclusions: The prevalence of complementary feeding among children in Ghana is still below the WHO-recommended standard of 90 % coverage. Non-attendance of postnatal check-up by mothers, cultural beliefs and habits, household poverty, home delivery of babies and non-Christian mothers were the most important risk factors for inadequate complementary feeding practices. Therefore, nutrition educational interventions to improve complementary feeding practices should target these factors in order to achieve the fourth Millennium Development Goal. Keywords Complementary feeding indicators Infant nutrition Young child GhanaInadequate complementary feeding practices have a detrimental impact on children's health and growth in the first 2 years of life (1) . This period has been recognized as the 'critical window' for the promotion of optimal growth, health and development of a child (2) . Children may become stunted if they do not receive sufficient quantities of quality complementary foods after 6 months of age even if they receive optimum breast-feeding (3) . By ensuring optimal complementary feeding an estimated 6 % of deaths among children under 5 years of age could be prevented (4) . Inappropriate complementary fee...

Determinants of Suboptimal Complementary Feeding Practices among Children Aged 6-23 Months in Selected Urban Slums of Oromia Zones (Ethiopia)

“…Based on mothers'/caregivers response on foods offered to her child 24 h prior to study, IYCF indicators were estimated as per WHO definitions [1,2,16] Moreover, assessment of MK Cf was done using standard questions [16,17]. To determine MK Cf , mothers/caregivers were asked total of 11 questions with regards to indicators of IYCF practices.…”

“…Study report from across Asian also proved lack of maternal education as determinants of inappropriate complementary feeding practices [22]. Many other studies [1,2,14,21] indicated maternal illiteracy could be associated with inappropriate complementary feeding practices.…”

“…Suboptimal complementary feeding including inappropriate breastfeeding practices have detrimental impact on child's growth, health and development [1,2]. Children aged 6 months and beyond needs sufficient quantities of quality complementary foods to support their rapid growth, as breast milk alone is nutritionally insufficient [1,3].…”

Complementary feeding practices: determinants of dietary diversity and meal frequency among children aged 6–23 months in Southern Benin

“…For instance, national assessments available in West African countries reported that the prevalence of a minimum acceptable diet ranged from 11.0% in Nigeria (2003) to 29.9% in Ghana (2007) (Issaka, Agho, Burns, Andrew, & Dibley, 2014;Ogbo, Page, Idoko, Fernanda, & Agho, 2015).…”

“…Until now, very few studies have investigated these drivers in order to understand the complex processes underlying inappropriate feeding practices at individual, household and community levels (Menon, 2012;Chapagain, 2013;Issaka et al, 2015b;Ogbo et al, 2015). Moreover, major explanatory factors highlighted by these studies include mainly socioeconomic factors such as cultural beliefs and habits, household poverty, maternal literacy and ignorance of appropriate practices (Menon, 2012;Chapagain, 2013;Issaka et al, 2014;Ogbo et al, 2015). Maternal education level, for example, could influence complementary feeding practices with potentially beneficial effects on child nutritional status.…”