Determinants of suboptimal complementary feeding practices among children aged 6–23 months in four anglophone West African countries

Abstract

Suboptimal complementary feeding practices have a detrimental impact on a child's growth, health and development in the first two years of life. They lead to child malnutrition, which contributes to the high prevalence of stunting (38%) and underweight (28%) reported for children <5 years of age in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study analysed complementary feeding practices in four anglophone West African countries (Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone) using the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys. The study covered 12 623 children aged 6-23 months from four anglophone West African countries (Ghana: 822 children: Liberia: 1458 children, Nigeria: 8786 children and Sierra Leone: 1557 children). Four complementary feeding indicators were examined against a set of individual-, household-and community-level factors, using multiple regression analysis. Multivariate analyses found that lack of post-natal contacts with health workers, maternal illiteracy and geographical region were common determinants of delayed introduction of solid, semi-solid or soft foods across all four countries. Predictors for minimum dietary diversity, minimum meal frequency and minimum acceptable diet included children aged 6-11 months, administrative/geographical region, poorer household income and limited access to media. The authors recommend that the four anglophone West African countries studied should prioritise efforts to improve complementary feeding practices in order to reduce child morbidity and mortality. Interventional studies on complementary feeding should target those from poor and illiterate households.

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

“…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].…”

“…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]. Therefore, optimal complementray feeding are not only effective practices for reducing child malnutrition [1,4], but also for curbing risks of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) later in life [5].…”

“…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]. Therefore, optimal complementray feeding are not only effective practices for reducing child malnutrition [1,4], but also for curbing risks of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) later in life [5]. To acknowledge this, WHO/UNICEF Global Strategy for Infant Young Complemntary Feeding (IYCF) provides overall framework for actions needed to protect, promote and support appropriate feeding practices in early childhood [6][7][8][9].…”

“…Recent Demographic Health Survey (EDHS 2011), however, shows a slight decline (stunting 44.4% and underweight 28.7%) for less than 2 years [11], which is still higher than the stunting rate (38%) for less than 5 years in Sub-Saharan Africa [1]. These were not a surprise, as complementary foods in Ethiopia are not optimal and lack nutritional quality, like many other developing countries [4,12].…”

“…These were not a surprise, as complementary foods in Ethiopia are not optimal and lack nutritional quality, like many other developing countries [4,12]. Early child foods are poor in diversity [10], commonly cow's milk, porridges [11,13], and mostly thin starchy gruel [1]. The quantity of cow's milk given varied and often diluted at market place or at home [13].…”