Background: Weaning is the period of time when infants introduce food different from breast milk in their diet, together with a gradual reduction of the intake of milk. It is estimated that 6% of under-five child mortality every year can be reduced through age appropriate infant feeding. Ethiopian demographic health survey 2016 declared that 21% of children consuming foods by age 4-5 months. Few Studies done in Ethiopia describe initiation time of weaning. Objective: To assess initiation time of weaning and associated factors among mothers of children aged less than 2 years in Aksum Town 2017/18. Methods: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted from December to May 2017/18 among 358 mothers of children. Simple random sampling technique was used to select from the five kebeles. Data was entered to Epi info version 7 and transported to SPSS version 22. Logistic regressions were used to identify the predictors of initiation time of weaning. Variables with P value <0.05 with 95% CI in the multivariable analysis were taken for declaring level of significance. The analyzed data were presented using texts, tables, graphs and charts. Result: In this study prevalence of early initiation of weaning was 38% (CI=33.0, 43.0). Mothers of children aged less than 2 years having poor knowledge on initiation of weaning Adjusted Odds Ratio ((AOR) =2.08, 95% CI=1.12, 3.90), mothers who were not received formal advice from health professionals on initiation of weaning (AOR =1.93, 95% CI=1.17, 3.16), mothers who return to work during post postpartum period (AOR= 3.32, CI=1.99, 5.54) and had family size of four and above (AOR= 2.53 ,95% CI=1.46, 4.39) were significantly associated factors with early initiation time of weaning. Conclusion: In this study prevalence of early initiation of weaning was high. Having poor knowledge, not received formal weaning advice, return to work and have family size of four and above were significantly associated factors with early initiation of weaning. Hence, Formal weaning advice should be given to mothers of children at health institutions during their prenatal care service regarding to initiation time of weaning. Key words: Initiation of weaning, early weaning, timely weaning

Background: Weaning is the period of time when infants introduce food different from breast milk in their diet, together with a gradual reduction of the intake of milk. It is estimated that 6% of under-five child mortality every year can be reduced through age appropriate infant feeding. Ethiopian demographic health survey 2016 declared that 21% of children consuming foods by age 4-5 months. Few Studies done in Ethiopia describe initiation time of weaning. Objective: To assess initiation time of weaning and associated factors among mothers of children aged less than 2 years in Aksum Town 2017/18. Methods: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted from December to May 2017/18 among 358 mothers of children. Simple random sampling technique was used to select from the five kebeles. Data was entered to Epi info version 7 and transported to SPSS version 22. Logistic regressions were used to identify the predictors of initiation time of weaning. Variables with P value <0.05 with 95% CI in the multivariable analysis were taken for declaring level of significance. The analyzed data were presented using texts, tables, graphs and charts. Result: In this study prevalence of early initiation of weaning was 38% (CI=33.0, 43.0). Mothers of children aged less than 2 years having poor knowledge on initiation of weaning Adjusted Odds Ratio ((AOR) =2.08, 95% CI=1.12, 3.90), mothers who were not received formal advice from health professionals on initiation of weaning (AOR =1.93, 95% CI=1.17, 3.16), mothers who return to work during post postpartum period (AOR= 3.32, CI=1.99, 5.54) and had family size of four and above (AOR= 2.53 ,95% CI=1.46, 4.39) were significantly associated factors with early initiation time of weaning. Conclusion: In this study prevalence of early initiation of weaning was high. Having poor knowledge, not received formal weaning advice, return to work and have family size of four and above were significantly associated factors with early initiation of weaning. Hence, Formal weaning advice should be given to mothers of children at health institutions during their prenatal care service regarding to initiation time of weaning. Key words: Initiation of weaning, early weaning, timely weaning