Suboptimal Feeding Practices and High Levels of Undernutrition Among Infants and Young Children in the Rural Communities of Halaba and Zeway, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Good nutrition and appropriate child feeding are vital in early stages of child development, particularly in the first 1000 days of life.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the adoption of infant and young child feeding practices of World Health Organization, dietary intake, and level of undernutrition in children <2 years of age.

METHODS: Baseline cross-sectional study was conducted (January-June 2013) in purposively selected rural communities of Halaba and Zeway, Ethiopia (N = 383 mother-child pairs, randomly selected).

RESULTS: Overall prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight was 45%, 9%, and 28% in Halaba, and 33%, 7%, and 15% in Zeway, respectively; higher levels of stunting (54% in Halaba and 36% in Zeway) were observed in 6 to 24 months; stunting and underweight, but not wasting, differed by age (P < .001) in Halaba. Median dietary diversity score in both communities was 2 with 61% to 65% of children consuming 0 to 2 food groupings. Except protein in all age and iron in 12 to 24 months, median intake of energy, iron, zinc, and calcium (and associated nutrient densities) was below the estimated needs that should come from complementary foods in both communities (in subsample). Early initiation of breast-feeding and exclusive breast-feeding was 63% and 86% in Halaba and 92% and 93% in Zeway, respectively (P < .001). Children receiving minimum acceptable diet were 6% and 9% in Halaba and Zeway, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The high levels of stunting and suboptimal feeding practices as well as low dietary diversity scores, energy, and nutrient intake in both communities, particularly in Halaba, indicate a need to improve/strengthen nutrition strategies for complementary feeding children in these areas.