Variation in the Factors Associated With Diet Quality of Children Aged 6 to 23 Months in Low and High Agroecological Zones of Rongai Subcounty, Kenya

Abstract

Background: Adequate quality complementary diets and appropriate feeding practices are important for proper growth and development of young children. Objective: To assess factors associated with diet diversity, meal frequency, and acceptable diet of children aged 6 to 23 months in two agroecological zones of Rongai subcounty, Kenya. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 384 mothers/caregivers with children aged 6 to 23 months. A structured questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographic characteristics and child feeding practices. Diet diversity, meal frequency, and acceptable diet were derived from a 24-hour recall of child’s food intake. Factors associated with diet quality were determined using binary logistic regression. Results: Mean child diet diversity score was 3.54 ± 1.0 of 7 food groups, with 56.8% of the children achieving minimum dietary diversity. A majority of the children (81.8%) received minimum meal frequency (MMF), with significant ( P < .05) difference between low (91.1%) and high (75.2%) agricultural potential areas. Children who received minimum acceptable diet (MAD) were only 34.1%. Mother/caregiver education level positively ( P < .05) associated with minimum diet diversity in low potential area (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.79, 95% CI: 1.47-9.75) and with MAD in high potential area (AOR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.01-3.46). Other factors associated with MDD, MMF, and MAD included household income and slow feeding in low potential area, and child gender and active feeding in high potential area. Conclusion: There is a variation in factors associated with diet quality and child feeding practices in different agroecological zones. Therefore, nutrition education and behavior change communication interventions aimed at improving child nutrition should be context-specific.

Optimal complementary feeding practices of children aged 6–23 months in three agro-ecological rural districts of Jimma zones of southwest Ethiopia

“…Moreover, the present study reported a higher rate of MMF in lowland areas (73⋅6 %). This finding is consistent with studies in Kenya ( 6 ) and Ethiopia ( 15 ) . The reason for the higher prevalence of MMF in the lowland could be the agricultural fieldwork (coffee plantation) handled by the husband or employed person, thereby mothers have adequate time and stay at home to feed their children frequently.…”

“…This finding is similar to the study conducted in midland and lowland districts by Kedir et al in Ethiopia ( 15 ) . Other studies from four Anglophone West African countries and Kenya showed the variation of complementary feeding practices across regions ( 6 , 36 ) . In Ethiopia, farmers predominantly grow cereals because the staple food is ‘Injera’ made up of cereal crops.…”

“…The complementary feeding practice of mothers on the attainment of the diversified diet and frequency of meals appropriate to age contributes to improving the optimal child-feeding practice ( 14 ) . Some evidence in the Eastern part of Ethiopia and Kenya shows the variation of MMF and MDD in highland and midland agro-ecological areas ( 6 , 15 , 16 ) .…”

Association of maternal characteristics with child feeding indicators and nutritional status of children under-two years in Rural Ghana

“…The study revealed that children whose mothers have highest level of education and also being employed throughout the year are received an adequate DDS and MAD. This finding corroborates the findings of studies conducted in the Philippines [32], Timor-Leste [33], six south Asian countries [34], Ethiopia [35] and Kenya [36]. This finding could be attributed to the ability of educated mothers to read, understand and apply information from nutrition education materials provided when they access child health facilities.…”

“…Each of the questions had four (4) response options -respondent alone, respondent and husband/partner jointly, husband/partner alone and any other household member which were coded as 4, 3, 2 and 1 respectively. The total scores which were between 15 and 60 were re-categorised as low (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30), medium/average (31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45) and high (46)(47)(48)(49)(50)(51)(52)(53)(54)(55)(56)(57)(58)(59)(60) decision making power similar to the coding of mother's household decision-making level in related studies [24,…”